and 


PRISONS 


A  LABOR*/ LOVE 


PRISONS  AND  PRAYER 

OR 

A  LABOR  OF  LOVE 

BY 


, 

K?  WH 


ELIZABETH  K   WHEATON 

^ 

Prison   Evangelist  * 


An  account  of  nearly  Twenty-two  Years  of  Gospel  Work,  seeking 

the  lost,  in  Prisons,  Reformatories,  Stockades,  Rescue 

Homes,  Saloons  and   Dives,  and  on  the 

Streets,  Railway  Trains,  etc. 


'He  that   goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall  doubtless  come 
again  with  rejoicing,  bringing  his  sheaves  with  him."      Psa.  126:6. 


For   I  was  an  hungered   and  ye   gave  me  meat ;    I  was   thirsty,  and    ye    gave 

me   drink:      I  was  a    stranger,  and   ye  took  me  in;  naked,   and  ye 

clothed     me ;      I    was     sick,    and     ye    visited      me ;     I 

was     IN      PRISON,     and     ye     came    unto 

me."  — Matthew    25:  35,   36. 


CHAS.    M.    KELLEY 

Tabor,  Iowa. 


COPYRIGHT,  1906, 

BY 

CIIAS.    M.    KELLEY. 


.* 

Bancroft  Ubrair 


DEDICATION. 

•i 

To  the 

RAILROAD  OFFICIALS  who  have  so  generously  and  cheerfully  provided 
me  transportation;  their  EMPLOYEES,  whose  kindness  has  so  many 
Ul  times  lightened  the  weariness  of  my  journeys;   the  STATE  and 

PRISON  OFFICIALS,  who  have  heartily  welcomed  me  and  set  be- 
fore  me    open    doors;    the   THOUSANDS   OF    PRISONERS    AND 
OTHERS  who  have  shown  by  word  and  deed  their  apprecia- 
tion of  my  efforts  to  help  them  to  a  better  life;  to  the 
^  many  who  have  in  any  way  ministered  to  my  necessi- 

ties or  offered  an  encouraging  word  by  the  way, 
and  to  my  SPIRITUAL  CHILDREN,  these  pages  are 
DC  cheerfully    inscribed    by 

O  THE  AUTHOR. 


THE  HARVEST  TIME. 

The  seed  I  have  scattered  in  springtime  with  weeping, 
And  watered  with  tears  and  with  dews  from  on  high, 

Another  may  shout  while  the  harvester's  reaping, 
Shall  gather  my  grain  in  the  sweet  by  and  by. 

CHORUS — 

Over  and  over,  yes,  deeper  and  deeper, 

My  heart  is  pierced  through  with  life 's  sorrowing  cry, 
But  the  tears  of  the  sower  and  the  songs  of  the  reaper 

Shall  mingle  together  in  joy  by  and  by; 
By  and  by,  by  and  by,  by  and  by,  by  and  by, 

Yes  the  tears  of  the  sower  and  the  songs  of  the  reaper 
Shall  mingle  together  in  joy  by  and  by. 

Another  may  reap  what  in  springtime  I've  planted, 

Another  rejoice  in  the  fruit  of  my  pain, 
Not  knowing  my  tears  when  in  summer  I  fainted, 

While  toiling,  sad-hearted,  in  sunshine  and  rain. 

The  thorns  will  have  choked  and  the  summer  sun  blasted 

The  most  of  the  seed  which  in  springtime  I  've  sown, 
But  the  Lord  who  has  watched  while  my 'weary  toil  lasted 
Will  give  me  a  harvest  for  what  I  have  done. 

— W.  A.  SPENCER. 
Words  and  music  copyright,  John  J,  Hood,  Philadelphia, 


PREFACE. 

DEAR  READER:  Over  twenty  years  have  passed  since 
God  called  and  commissioned  me  to  go  to  those  that  were 
bound.  Within  five  years  from  the  time  I  entered  upon 
the  work,  I  had  been  enabled  to  preach  the  gospel  in  every 
state  and  territory  and  had  held  meetings  in  nearly  every 
state-prison  in  the  United  States  and  in  the  prisons  in  Can- 
ada and  Mexico.  My  first  trip  to  Europe  was  made  in 
1890.  I  have  not  only  held  meetings  in  prison,  but  have 
endeavored  to  "preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature" — to 
those  in  authority,  governors,  prison  and  railroad  officials, 
aad  trainmen,  as  well  as  to  those  in  churches,  missions,  pris- 
ons, hospitals,  alms-houses,  dives,  brothels,  saloons  and  the 
slums.  In  all  places  God  has  fulfilled  His  promise  to  be 
with  me  and  has  given  me  evidence  that  my  labor  was  not 
in  vain  in  Him. 

When  I  was  made  to  feel  that  the  Lord  required  me  to 
write  of  the  victories  He  had  wrought  and  of  the  work 
yet  waiting  to  be  done  I  was  amazed  and  am  still,  though  it 
is  more  than  ten  years  since  God  first  told  me  to  write  for 
Him.  Early  left  an  orphan,  my  childhood  was  spent  in 
the  country  where  I  had  to  walk  two  miles  across  the  fields 
and  through  deep  snows  in  order  to  get  to  school,  and  my 
life-work  has  been  crippled  by  my  lack  of  education.  How 
then  can  I  write?  Yet  the  command  of  the  Lord  has  been 
upon  me  and  the  cry  of  the  needy  has  rung  in  my  ears. 
Words  cannot  describe  the  cruel  wrongs,  the  awful  injus- 
tice, the  scenes  of  desolation  and  degradation  that  have 
come  to  my  knowledge.  Much  has  been  done,  much  is 
being  done;  and  yet,  O  how  much  still  needs  to  be  done, 


X  PREFACE 

in  behalf  of  those  in  prison !  Wrongs  that  are  indescribable 
still  cry  to  God  for  vengeance  in  this  our  own  land.  Cru- 
elties that  are  beyond  the  power  of  language  to  describe 
still  exist,  and  the  cry  of  the  oppressed  comes  up  to  the  ear 
of  Him  who  has  declared  "Vengeance  is  mine,  I  will  repay." 

One  reason  I  have  for  writing,  is  to  show  the  great  need 
of  Holy  Ghost  workers — those  whose  hearts  God  has 
touched — to  carry  the  gospel  to  those  whose  lives  are  dark- 
ened, blighted  and  blasted,  and  tell  them  of  a  mighty  deliv- 
erance from  the  bondage  of  sin,  and  of  freedom  in  Christ. 

Reader,  if  you  could  see  the  many  inside  prison  walls 
going  insane,  you  would  not  wonder  that,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  I  am  determined  to  prosecute  my  work  as  I  have 
never  done  before,  to  save  these  poor  prisoners  from  despair, 
and  to  do  with  my  might  what  my  hands  find  to  do. 

I  have  kept  no  diary  or  journal  and  nearly  all  of  ten 
years'  correspondence  was  destroyed  at  one  time  by  fire. 
Hence  I  have  written  largely  from  memory,  and  without 
any  attempt  to  give  an  orderly  and  connected  account  of 
my  work.  I  have  endeavored  to  put  before  you,  dear 
reader,  such  glimpses  of  the  work  and  the  field  as  would 
fairly  illustrate  that  which  has  been  done  and  that  which 
needs  to  be  done. 

I  ask  for  my  imperfect  work  your  kind  consideration,  and 
trust  that  you  will  overlook  my  many  mistakes  and  pray 
God's  blessing  to  rest  upon  the  effort;  and  if  I  can  only 
awaken  in  your  hearts  a  deeper  compassion  for  lost  girls 
and  fallen  men  and  the  heart-broken  friends  who  mourn 
the  loss  of  loved  ones,  I  shall  not  have  written  in  vain. 

In  the  selection,  arrangement  and  preparation  of  manu- 
script, I  have  been  assisted  by  several  friends  who  have 
been  much  interested  in  the  work,  whose  labor  and  patience 


PREFACE  Xi 

rcan  only  be  rewarded  by  Him  whom  we  serve.  Among 
these  are  Brother  and  Sister  Shaw,  of  Chicago,  who  have  so 
kindly  given  the  introduction  to  the  work,  having  full 
knowledge  of  its  contents  and  ability  to  judge  of  its  merits. 
I  will  also  mention  Brother  and  Sister  Kelley,  of  Tabor, 
Iowa,  who  have  rendered  valuable  assistance. 

With  many  prayers  and  tears  I  send  this  work  forth, 
hoping  it  may  find  a  place  on  your  book-shelf  and  a  corner 
in  your  heart,  and  that  you  and  I,  dear  reader,  may  meet 
where  there  are  no  prison  walls,  iron  bars,  nor  breaking 
hearts.  And  may  there  be  gathered  there  with  us  at  Jesus' 
feet  many  of  those  whom  we  are  striving  to  comfort  and 
save,  while  together  we  crown  our  Savior  Lord  of  all,  and 
through  an  endless  eternity  worship  Him  who  gave  His 
life  a  ransom  for  the  lost — "because  He  loved  them  so." 

"MOTHER  WHEATON." 


INTRODUCTION. 

This  world  is,  to  a  large  extent,  a  great  prison  house. 
Nearly  all  of  its  inhabitants  are  prisoners  surro'unded  by 
walls  of  sin  and  darkness.  Many  are  bound  down  by  the 
curse  of  rum,  others  by  the  besetting  sins  of  lust,  unholy 
temper,  envy,  revenge,  malice,  hatred,  jealousy,  prejudice, 
pride,  covetousness,  or  selfishness  resulting  from  a  carnal 
mind.  Out  of  the  vast  multitudes  that  are  led  captive  by 
the  devil  at  his  will,  a  few  that  have  violated  human  law 
have  been  sentenced  to  various  prisons  and  reformatories. 
This  book  has  much  to  say  about  the  men  and  women 
behind  prison  walls.  It  records  the  sad  story  of  many 
prisoners  in  a  way  that  very  few  can  read  without  being 
moved  to  tears  and  that  will  awaken  sympathy  in  the  hard- 
est hearts.  It  also  tells  of  the  work  of  God  among  pris- 
oners both  in  this  and  other  countries.  It  records  some  of 
the  brightest  of  Christian  experiences  on  record,  showing 
how  many  prisoners  that  have  been  slaves  to  worse  than 
human  law  and  have  lived  in  greater  darkness  than  in  the 
prison  dungeon,  have  been  made  free  by  being  translated 
into  the  light  that  outshines  the  noonday  sun,  and  how 
they  have  been  enabled  to  live  noble,  Christian  lives  behind 
the  bars. 

We  are  well  acquainted  with  the  author,  having  known 
her  for  several  years  and  having  had  the  privilege  of  enter- 
taining her  in  our  home  more  or  less  during  that  time. 
This  acquaintance  has  enabled  us  to  know  something  of 
the  burden  that  rests  upon  her  soul  for  prisoners.  She  has 
doubtless  spent  more  time  in  the  work,  visited  more  prisons 
and  traveled  farther  than  any  other  living  prison  worker. 
She  has  visited  practically  all  of  the  prisons  of  the  United 


XIV  INTRODUCTION 

States  and  Canada  and  most  of  them  many  times,  and  twice 
she  has  crossed  the  sea.  Her  mission  has  been  a  mission 
of  loving  service,  with  but  little  financial  reward.  But  the 
Master  who  laid  this  work  upon  her  heart  has  given  her 
rich  reward  for  all  her  toil  and  privation  and  suffering, 
for  many  have  been  converted  through  her  instrumentality. 
Some  have  gone  to  their  reward.  Many  others,  both  in 
and  out  of  prison,  are  living  honest,  useful  lives. 

Had  this  work  been  written  only  for  the  hasty  reader 
who  has  but  a  few  hours  at  the  most  to  give,  much  that  it 
contains  might  better  have  been  omitted;  but  such  as  these 
can  easily  select  from  its  pages  that  which  is  most  to  their 
liking,  while  those  who  are  deeply  interested  in  the  work 
of  soul-saving,  as  well  as  the  prisoner  whose  spare  hours 
drag  heavily  and  slowly,  will  here  find  food  for  study  and 
encouragement  that  will  repay  for  many  days  of  careful 
reading. 

In  many  respects,  such  a  work  as  is  here  represented  has 
never  been  done  by  any  other  person.  For  these  hundreds 
of  pages  give  but  a  few  glimpses,  as  it  were,  of  the  work 
"Mother  Wheaton"  has  done.  We  have  assisted  her  in 
gleaning  from  the  many  hundreds  of  letters  still  in  her 
possession  (though  much  of  her  correspondence  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire)  and  in  arranging  and  preparing  matter  for 
publication.  We  have  listened  as  with  eyes  filled  with  tears 
she  has  told  us  of  the  needs  of  the  work,  and  with  every 
day  thus  spent  we  have  become  more  deeply  interested  in 
the  work  to  which  her  life  has  been  given.  In  a  memorial 
service  it  was  said  of  the  late  Bishop  William  Taylor :  "He 
was  not  an  organizer  nor  an  administrator ;  not  a  statesman, 
in  the  ordinary  use  of  those  terms.  He  was  rather  a  great 
religious  pioneer.  He  blazed  pathways  through  unknown 


INTRODUCTION  XV 

moral  wilds,  and  left  the  work  of  organization  mainly  to 
those  who  might  follow  after."  Such,  in  her  field  of  labor, 
has  largely  been  the  work  of  Mother  Wheaton. 

No  place  has  been  far  enough  away,  no  stockade  hard 
enough  to  reach,  no  day  warm  enough  or  cold  enough  or 
stormy  enough,  no  prison  official  or  stockade  captain  suffi- 
ciently abusive,  to  discourage  her  when  she  felt  that  the 
Master  bade  her  go  forward. 

With  a  burning  love  for  all  the  sinful  and  all  the  needy, 
she  has  gone  from  north  to  south  and  from  east  to  west, 
seeking  the  lost  as  one  seeks  for  hidden  treasure.  Through 
nights  of  weariness  and  days  of  toil  she  has  sought  them 
and  loved  them  and  wept  over  them,  man  or  woman  or 
child,  as  a  mother  weeps  over  and  loves  her  own.  She  has 
borne  their  burdens  and  shared  their  sorrows — ever  bring- 
ing to  them  the  cheering  word,  the  testimony  or  inspiring 
song,  the  faithful  warning,  the  earnest  prayer,  the  plain 
gospel  message,  the  hearty  hand-clasp,  the  loving  "God 
bless  you." 

We  believe  and  pray  that  these  pages  may  be  greatly 
used  of  God  to  reach  thousands  of  hearts  and  stir  up  many 
to  carry  forward  the  work  so  dear  to  her,  when  "Mother 
Wheaton"  has  crossed  over  to  meet  those  that  are  waiting 
to  welcome  her  on  the  other  side. 

Yours,  in  Jesus'  love, 

ETTA  E.  SHAW. 
S.  B.  SHAW. 

Chicago,  111.,  1906. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTEB  I. 

BIOGRAPHY  AND  CALL   TO  THE   WORK. 

Birth — Left  an  Orphan — Conversion — Marriage — Sorrow — Sanc- 
tification — Call  to  Prison  Work — Family  Keunion — Sketch  of  My 
Life  by  My  Brother 23 

CHAPTEE  II. 

LETTER  TO   MY  PRISON   CHILDREN. 

My  Limited  Education — Disappointments — A  Friend  in  Jesus. 
38 

CHAPTEE  III. 

A   PLEA   FOR   THE  PRISONER. 

In  the  Shadow  of  the  Wall  (poem) — Letters  to  Prison  Officers — 
Worth  While  (poem) — Prejudice — A  Look  into  the  Cell — Insane 
Prisoners — All  Prisoners  Not  Criminal — Prepared  to  Die 43 

CHAPTEE  IV. 

A   BRIEF   PEN   PICTURE   OF   PRISON   LIFE. 

The  Buildings — Entrance — Chapel  and  Dining-room — Chapel 
Service — The  Cell-house — Workshops — Hospital 59 

CHAPTEE  V. 

LETTERS   OF   INTRODUCTION   AND  KIND  WORDS    FROM   GOVERNORS,   PRISON 
OFFICIALS,    ETC. 

From    Governors — Prison    Wardens — Chaplains 67 

CHAPTEE  VI. 

SOME   OF    MY   PRISON   BOYS. 

A  Prisoner's  Conversion  as  Shown  by  His  Letters — A  Talented 
Young  Man— Under  Death  Sentence — Commuted — Finally  Pardoned 
— Letters — Sentenced  for  Life — His  Letters — Faithful  Inside  and 
Outside  of  Prison  Walls ..  .  87 

CHAPTEE  VII. 

LETTERS  FROM   CO-WORKERS  AND   MY  PRISON   GIRLS. 
Letters   from   Sister   Co-workers — From   My   Prison-bound   Girls. 
117 

CHAPTEE  VIII. 

INCIDENTS    IN    MY    PRISON    WORK. 

Letter  from  the  Prisoners  at  Chester,  111. — Extract  of  Chaplain's 
Beport— Suicide  of  a  Prisoner — "I  Have  no  Friends" — Letters 


XV111  CONTENTS 

from  Chaplain  Starr — A  Way  Opened  in  Answer  to  Prayer — A  Let- 
ter from  a  Governor — A  Woman  Converted  and  Healed — A  Change 
Wrought — A  Chaplain  in  My  Audience — Impressed  to  Tarry — En- 
couragement by  the  Way — Cruel  Neglect — Another  Suicide — Just 
Out  of  Prison — Dying  in  Prison — Does  It  Pay? — Saved  and  Preach- 
ing the  Gospel — In  Solitary  Confinement — Crepe  on  the  Door — In  a 
Police  Station — Burned  in  His  Cell — The  Innocent  in  Bonds — Con- 
fessed Her  Guilt— Under  Sentence  of  Death — "The  Beligion  Mother 
Had" 135 

CHAPTEK  IX. 

CONVERSION    OF    DESPERATE    PRISONERS    PREVENTS    A    TERRIBLE    MUTINY. 

Welcomed  in  Prison — An  After-Service — Plan  of  the  Kutiny — 
Havoc  of  Sin— Letters 161 

CHAPTEE  X. 

REMARKABLE  CONVERSION   AND  EXPERIENCE  OF  GEO.   H.   COLGROVE. 

His  Own  Story — Infidel  Literature — Burglary  and  Murder — Life 
Sentence — Conversion — Study  of  the  Scriptures — Bible  Class  Teacher 
— An  Enemy  Kindly  Treated — A  Pardon  Kef  used — Second  Effort  to 
Secure  a  Pardon — Letters — Final  Illness  and  Triumphant  Death.  169 

CHAPTER  XL 

WORK   IN    STOCKADES   AND  PRISON   CAMPS    IN    SOUTHERN    STATES. 

Eace  Question — Letters  of  Introduction  and  Recommendation — 
A  Stockade — Letter  to  a  Governor — Beply  of  Prison  Manager — Plea 
for  Women  Convicts — Bloodhounds — Coal  Mines — A  Touching  Inci- 
dent— First  Meeting  in  a  Prison  Camp — Eide  on  Engine  of  a  Coal 
Train — First  Eailroad  Pass — Eide  on  a  Mule 188 

CHAPTEE  XII. 

STOCKADES    AND    PRISON    CAMPS    CONTINUED. 

Novel  Conveyances — Assisting  a  Colored  Minister — Through 
Danger  Alone — Prostrate  Among  Prisoners — A  Meeting  at  Day 
Dawn — Helping  to  Bury  a  Prisoner — Wreck  of  a  Coal  Train — Sugar 
Camps — Eide  in  a  Cart — In  a  Gambling  Saloon — Condition  of  Con- 
victs— Unjustly  Condemned — Need  of  Reform 212 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

WORK   IN   FT.    MADISON,    IOWA,    AND    SANTA   FE,    NEW    MEXICO. 

My  First  Effort  for  Service  in  a  Prison — Kindness  of  Officers 
and  Men— Letters  from  Officials — Work  in  Santa  Fe,  N.  Mex. — Three 
Christian  Men  Pardoned — A  Forty  Years'  Sentence — Kind  Words 
from  Governor  and  Superintendent 241 

CHAPTEE  XIV. 

GONE  HOME  FROM   THE  SCAFFOLD. 

Special  Mission  to  Doomed  Men — Indifferent  but  Finally  Con- 
verted— Letters — Mother's  Prayers — Claimed  to  Be  Innocent — • 


CONTENTS  XIX 

Hardened  in  Crime — Ten  Men  under  Death  Sentence — Conversion 
of  a  Jewish  Boy — Mysteriously  Guided — In  Long  Expectation — Sen- 
tence Commuted — A  Man  Deceived — Interceded  for  a  Boy — Went  to 
the  Scaffold  Singing — A  Prominent  Official — Recent  Cases 254 

CHAPTER  XV. 

WORK   IN    CHURCHES    AND    MISSIONS. 

Provided  with  Food  in  Answer  to  Prayer — A  Great  Revival — 
A  Man  Saved  from  Suicide — Letters  from  Pastors  and  Others — 
Church  of  the  Redeemer  in  Baltimore — Successful  Meetings — Young 
Man  Called  to  the  Ministry — A  Colored  Woman  Saved  and  Preach- 
ing— Incidents — Saved  by  a  Hymn 294 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

PREACHING   THE   GOSPEL   ON    RAILWAY   TRAINS. 

Accidental  Death  of  My  Nephew — My  First  Trip  by  Rail — Ex- 
perience of  a  Railroad  Man — Transportation — A  Kind  Conductor — 
Interesting  Services — Train  Saved  from  Wreck — A  Train  in  Danger 
— Impressed  to  Leave  the  Train — Helped  to  Care  for  a  Wounded 
Man — Conductor's  "God  Bless  You" — A  Woman's  Faith  Encour- 
aged— Riding  in  a  Parlor  Car— Favor  to  the  Railroad  Company — 313 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

STREET   AND   OPEN   AIR. 

Poem — Permits  to  Hold  Street  Meetings — From  a  Missionary — 
My  First  Street  Meeting — A  Wonderful  Conversion — Became  a 
Preacher — The  Blind  Encouraged — Forbidden  to  Preach  on  the 
Street — Thought  They  Saw  a  Ghost — Hurt  by  a  Saloonkeeper — 
Warned  to  Leave  the  City— In  Jail 328 

RESCUE   WORK. 

"A  Mother's  Plea"  (poem)— A  Plea  for  our  Sisters — Drunken 
Women  and  Men — Assaulted  in  a  Dive — Attempts  Suicide — A  Girl 
Saved — A  Girl  Rejected  at  a  Rescue  Home — Neglected  by  the 
Churches — Visits  to  Hospitals — Kind  Tributes — The  Prodigal  Daugh- 
ter (poem) 349 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

WORK   IN    CANADA   AND   MEXICO. 

Street  Meetings  in  Hamilton — In  London,  Ontario — A  Girl  Res- 
cued— In  Kingston — Stoned  in  Quebec — Victory  in  Toronto — In  Vic- 
toria, B.  C. — Work  in  Mexico — A  Bull  Fight — Wept  with  Condemned 
Men — Attacked  by  a  Fierce  Dog — Ministered  to  a  Sufferer 365 

CHAPTER  XX. 

ACROSS   THE   SEA. 

On  the  Ocean — In  a  Foreign  Land — Preaching  in  Glasgow — My 
Life  in  Danger — A  Song  Stops  a  Row — Arrested  for  Singing — 
Tumult  in  a  Dive — Mob  of  Drunken  Women — Letter  from  America 
— In  Paisley — Return  'to  America — Second  Visit  to  Europe — Expe- 
riences in  London — Safe  Return  to  America — Letter  from  Scot- 
land..   372 


'XX  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

TRAVEL  AND  TOIL. 

Two  Nights'  Service— One  Weeks'  Work— A  Profitable  Trip- 
Six  Weeks'  Service — Eecent  Work— Another  Trip 395 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

LETTERS   FROM   PRISONERS.  431 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

KIND   WORDS   FROM   FRIENDS. 

From  H.  L.  Hastings — Mrs.  H.  L.  Hastings — E.  E.  Byrum, 
Author  and  Editor— Mother  of  a  Prisoner — Prisoner's  Daughter — 
An  Editor — Ex-Prisoner — Miscellaneous 477 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

SKETCHES    FROM    PRESS    REPORTS.  491 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

FURNISHED    UNTO    EVERY    GOOD    WORK. 

"Who  Will  Man  the  Life  Boat?"  (poem)— Adaptation  Needed 
— The  Masses  Not  Reached — My  Boy  in  India — Preaching  the  Gospel 
in  the  Pesthouse — How  the  Lord  Provides — Miscellaneous  Inci- 
dents   530 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

SELECTIONS    FROM    MY    SCRAPBOOK. 

Author  of  Flowrer  Mission  Day — Flower  Day  at  the  Prison — 
Lines  by  a  Prisoner — Take  This  Message  to  My  Mother — Not  Lonely 
Now — Jesus  Is  Looking  On — How  God  Calls  Missionaries  Out  of 
Prison  Cells — Outside  the  Prison  Walls — If  We  Knew — Little  Graves 
— The  Mother's  Warning — Harry's  Remorse — Twenty-Thirty-Four — 
His  Mother's  Song — Perfect  Peace — Sweet  Revenge — No  Telephone 
in  Heaven — A  True  Hero — Perfect  Through  Faith — The  Kid — 
Charged  with  Murder — Mother's  Face — Only  Sixteen — The  Dress 
Question 547 

SONGS. 

1.  "Life's  Railway  to   Heaven." 

2.  "Meet  Me  There." 

3.'  "God  Bless  My  Boy." 

4.  "The  Great  Judgment  Morning." 

5.  ' '  My  Name  in  Mother 's  Prayer. ' ' 

6.  "Over  There." 

7.  "This  Way." 

8.  "She's  More  to  Be  Pitied." 

9.  "Some   Mother's   Child." 

10.  "Tell  My  Dear  Old  Mother." 

11.  "When  the  Death-bell  Shall  Toll." 

12.  "The  End  of  the  Way." 


CONTENTS  XXI 

APPENDIX.  596 

The  Personnel  of  Prison  Management.     By  Warden  C.  E.  Haddox. 
Meditations  of  a  Prisoner. 

Discourse  on  ' '  The  Agony  in  the  Garden. ' '    By  a  Prisoner. 
Directory  of  Prisons  and  Eeformatories. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Frontispiece 

Ohio  State  Prison 27 

Family  Group 34 

John  Eyder 34 

Giving  the  Boys  Counsel 42 

With  Insane  Prisoners 52 

Prisoners    Marching 58 

Prison  Chapel  and  Dining  Room 60 

Corridor  in  Cell  House 62 

New  Federal  Prison  at  Ft.  Leavenworth,  Kan 66 

The  Old  Tombs,  New  Tombs,  New  York 80 

Personal  Work 86 

Administration   Building,    Mitchelville,   Iowa 115 

Campus    and    Play-ground,    Girls'    Industrial    School,    Mitchel- 
ville, la 116 

A    Chaplain 's    Residence 118 

Women 's  Prison,  Allegheny,   Pa 121 

Group  of  Girls  in  an  Industrial  School 132 

Southern  Illinois  State  Prison  at  Chester 134 

Interior  of  Chapel,  Dining  Apartment,  and  Row  of  Cells,  Ches- 
ter,   111 160 

Geo.    H.    Colgrove 169 

Smelter  and  Work  Shops,  Chester,  111 186 

Woman  Convict  at  Work  in  the  Field 195 

Convicts  Getting  Out  Coal 198 

Prison  at  Santa  Fe,  N.  Mex 240 

Church  of  the  Redeemer,  Baltimore,  Md 303 

A  Railroad  Engine 312 

Miss  Josephine   Cowgill 329 

Mother   Prindle 361 

State  Prison,  Joliet,  111 394 

Prison  at  Deer  Lodge,  Mont 397 

Criminal  Insane  Hospital,  Chester,  111 408 

Prison  at  Huntsville,  Tex 410 

Group  of  Delegates  at  Prison  Congress,  1904 414 

Industrial   Reform   School,   Hutchinson,  Kan 416 

Industrial   School,   Whittier,   Cal 418 

Prisons  at  Jackson,  Mich.,  Deer  Lodge,  Mont.,  and  Folsom,  Cal.  .  430 

A   Ward   in   Prison   Hospital 445 

Kitchen  and  Dining  Room 455 

Drug  Department  in  Prison  Hospital 475 

Mother    Wheaton 490 

Ruth  en  a,    India   Famine   Boy 535 

State   Prison,   Anamosa,   Iowa 546 


"Pray  for  my  soul.     More  things  are  wrought  by  prayer 
Than  this  world  dreams  of.     Wherefore,  let  thy  voice 
Eise  like  a  fountain  for  me  night  and  day. 
For  what  are  men  better  than  sheep  or  goats 
That  nourish  a  blind  life  within  the  brain, 
If,  knowing  God,  they  lift  not  the  hands  of  prayer 
Both  for  themselves  and  those  who  call  them  friend! 
For  so  the  whole  round  earth  is  every  way 
Bound  by  gold  chains  about  the  feet  of  God." 

— Tennyson. 


PRISONS  AND  PRAYER 

OR 

A  LABOR  OF  LOVE. 

CHAPTER  I. 
Biography  and  Call  to  the  Work. 

I  was  born  May  10,  1844,  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  My 
parents,  John  and  Mary  Van  Nest  Ryder,  were  honest, 
hard  working  people,  and  were  earnest  Christians.  One 
year  after  my  birth,  my  father  died,  leaving  my  mother 
with  five  little  children — three  boys  and  two  girls.  Mother 
married  again  and  had  two  children.  The  little  girl  was 
buried  the  day  before  mother  died.  My  half-brother,  J.  P. 
Thompson,  still  lives  in  Ohio.  Five  years  after  my  father's 
death  my  mother  followed  him  to  the  better  land,  and  I,  with 
the  rest,  was  left  an  orphan.  Well  do  I  remember  the  night 
my  mother  died.  She  was  so  troubled  about  leaving  her 
children  alone  in  the  world,  but  continued  long  in  earnest 
prayer  until  she  had  the  assurance  that  God  would  care 
for  them,  and  then  she  sang  the  old-time  hymn, 

"There   is    a   fountain    filled    with   blood, 
Drawn  from  Immanuel  's  veins, ' ' 

and  went  shouting  home  to  glory.  What  a  lasting  impres- 
sion is  made  on  a  child's  heart  by  the  life  or  death  of  a 
godly  father  or  mother ! 

By  mother's  death  I  was  almost  crazed  with  grief  and 
could  not  be  comforted.  At  her  grave  I  was  separated  from 


24  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

my  brothers  and  sister,  and  went  to  live  with  a  family  to 
whom  mother  had  given  me  before  her  death.  Some  time 
after  this,  the  family  moving  away,  I  went  to  live  with 
my  grandparents,  under  whose  careful  religious  training  I 
remained  until  married.  I  received  little  education,  as  my 
opportunities  were  very  limited. 

From  my  earliest  recollection  I  was  deeply  convicted  of 
sin.  This  conviction  followed  me  until  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years  I  gave  my  heart  to  God  and  received  the  witness  that 
I  was  His  child.  I  united  with  the  people  called  Metho- 
dists and  tried  to  walk  in  the  light  I  had,  until  God  called 
me  into  His  vineyard. 

MARRIAGE. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  I  was  married  to  Mr.  J.  A.  Wheaton. 
We  lived  happily  together,  but  in  two  years  I  was  called 
to  give  up  not  only  my  dear  husband,  but  also  our  little  baby 
boy.  They  were  buried  in  one  grave,  and  I  was  again 
left,  alone  in  the  world.  O  my  breaking  heart !  I  was  in 
despair!  I  did  not  know  then  God's  wonderful  comfort- 
ing power  as  I  now  do/  I  was  scarcely  more  than  a  nom- 
inal Christian,  a  fashionable  proud  woman,  moving  in  high 
society,  left  to  face  the  battle  of  life  alone.  To  try  to 
drown  my  sorrow  I  rushed  deeper  into  society  and  fashion — 
only  to  be  plunged  into  deeper  despair.  What  I  suffered 
during  those  years  is  beyond  the  power  of  tongue  or  pen  to 
describe.  My  anguish  of  heart  and  mind  were  so  great 
that  at  times  reason  almost  tottered  on  its  throne.  And  had 
it  not  been  for  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God  in  sending 
me  timely  aid  through  true  Christian  friends,  I  should 
never  have  been  able  to  have  triumphed  over  it  all. 

Soon  after  I  was  converted,  I  felt  the  call  of  God  to  His 
service.  I  longed  to  be  a  missionary.  My  heart  especially 


OR  A   LABOR  OF   LOVE  25 

went  out  to  the  colored  people  and  the  Indians,  and  to  the 
poor  unfortunate  ones  of  my  own  sex.  Their  sufferings 
touched  my  heart,  and  it  was  this  class  with  which  I  did 
some  of  my  first  prison  and  missionary  work  in  after  years. 
But  in  those  days  there  was  very  little  encouragement  to  a 
woman  to  do  such  work.  O  how  those  who  are  called  of 
God  now  should  appreciate  their  privileges ! 

Though  hindered  and  discouraged,  this  call  did  not  leave 
me.  I  lived  in  the  church  for  years,  always  doing  my  part 
in  church  work.  I  was  proud  and  vain,  but  knew  no  better ; 
yet  I  longed  to  be  all  the  Lord's. 

SANCTIFICATION. 

Several  years  after  my  conversion  I  heard  of  holiness  or 
entire  consecration  to  God,  and  the  baptism  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  for  service.  After  this,  for  about  ten  years,  I  was 
under  conviction  for  a  clean  heart,  seeking  for  a  while  and 
then  growing  careless,  receiving  little  help  from  the  formal 
professors  around  me.  As  I  counted  the  cost,  at  times  it 
seemed  too  great.  I  knew  it  meant  to  give  up  fashionable 
society,  home,  friends,  reputation  and  all:  and  to  take  the 
way  of  the  lowly  Nazarene.  I  heard  at  this  time  of  a 
holiness  meeting  about  forty  miles  from  home,  which  I 
attended.  Here  I  heard  the  pure  gospel  preached,  and  light 
shone  upon  my  soul.  I  saw  that  none  but  the  pure  in 
heart  could  see  God  in  peace.  After  wrestling  In  prayer 
until  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  I  seemed  held  by  an 
invisible  power,  pure  and  holy,  and  was  so  filled  with  awe 
that  I  feared  to  speak  or  move.  Soon  I  heard  a  wonderful 
sound,  soft,  sweet  and  soothing,  like  the  rustle  of  angels' 
wings.  Its  holy  influence  pervaded  my  whole  being;  a 
sound  not  of  earth,  but  distinctly  audible  to  both  myself 
and  the  sister  who  was  in  the  same  room!  I  listened  en- 


26  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

raptured.  I  feared  it  was  death,  and  my  breath  grew  shorter 
and  shorter.  I  did  not  move  nor  open  my  eyes.  Pres- 
ently Jesus  stood  before  me,  and  O  the  wonderful  look  of 
love — so  far  above  the  love  of  mortals,  so  humble,  meek 
and  pleading !  In  the  tender  voice  of  the  Holy  Spirit  came 
these  words:  "Can  you  give  up  all  and  follow  me?  Lay 
your  weary,  aching  head  upon  my  breast.  I  will  never  leave 
you  nor  forsake  you.  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway  even  unto 
the  end  of  the  world."  I  was  enabled  by  the  Holy  Spirit. 
to  say,  "Yes,  Lord  Jesus."  I  knew  it  was  Jesus.  When  I 
said  "Yes,  Lord,"  the  power  of  God  fell  upon  me,  soul  and 
body,  and  I  was  bathed  in  a  sea  of  glory.  When  I  had 
recovered  from  my  rapture,  Jesus  had  vanished  as  silently 
as  He  came;  but  the  blessing  and  power  remained.  The 
sister  whispered  and  asked,  "Did  you  hear  that  sound?" 
And  then  she  told  me  that  this  was  for  my  benefit.  This 
occurred  November  n,  1883.  That  day  the  people  looked 
at  me  and  wondered,  seeing  the  great  change  God  had 
wrought  in  me  by  His  power.  The  night  following  we  had 
an  all-night  meeting.  Again  God  spoke  to  me  by  His  Holy 
Spirit,  saying,  "Go  and  honor  my  Son's  name,  and  I  will 
go  with  you."  I  prayed,  "O  Lord,  if  this  is  Thy  voice, 
speak  once  more."  The  same  words  came  again.  I  obeyed 
and  God  did  most  wonderfully  reveal  Himself  to  me.  I 
knew  I  was  called  to  His  service  and  to  work  for  lost  souls. 

MY   CALL  TO  PRISON   WORK. 

The  question  is  often  asked  me,  "How  did  you  become 
interested  in  this  work,  and  learn  to  understand  the  needs 
of  the  prisoner?"  It  was  through  this  call  from  God. 
None  of  my  relatives  or  friends  were  ever  convicted  of 
crime.  When  I  was  a  young  woman  I  attended  the  state 
fair  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  with  a  delegation  visited  the 


28  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

state-prison  at  that  place.  While  waiting  for  a  guide  to 
show  us  through  the  prison  a  young  man  was  brought  in 
by  an  officer.  I  saw  him  searched,  and  later  as  the  heavy 
iron  doors  closed  behind  him  with  a  clang,  my  sympathies 
were  aroused.  While  being  shown  through  the  prison  I  saw 
this  young  man  with  his  hair  close  cut,  dressed  in  prisoners' 
garb,  placed  by  the  side  of  hardened  criminals.  There  my 
first  interest  was  awakened  to  try  to  make  the  burdens 
lighter  for  the  prison-bound.  As  we  were  leaving  the  pris- 
on I  noticed  some  small  articles  which  had  been  made  by 
the  inmates  in  their  spare  moments.  Among  these  I  saw 
and  was  especially  impressed  with  a  miniature  statue  of  a 
prisoner  dressed  in  stripes,  holding  in  one  hand  a  ball  and 
chain,  the  other  hand  shading  the  eyes.  Upon  the  pedestal 
of  the  statue  were  these  words,  "What  shall  the  harvest 
be?"  I  shall  never  forget  the  impression  then  made  upon 
my  mind.  It  is  still  fresh  in  my  memory. 

Years  after  this,  shortly  after  my  commission  to  preach 
the  gospel,  as  I  was  traveling  one  night  to  reach  an  ap- 
pointment, stopping  at  a  station  in  Iowa  to  change  cars, 
three  prisoners  in  handcuffs,  who  were  being  taken  to^the 
state-prison,  were  brought  in.  My  heart  was  moved  with 
deep  compassion  for  them.  Many  were  curiously  inspect- 
ing them,  as  if  they  thought  they  had  no  tender  feelings. 
Approaching  these  men,  I  gave  them  my  hand,  saying,  "I 
am  sorry  for  you,  but  God  can  help  you  in  this  hour  of 
trial,"  and  I  tried  to  cheer  them,  and  told  them  I  would 
sometime  visit  them  in  the  prison  if  I  could.  I  did  not 
then  know  I  was  so  soon  to  enter  upon  my  mission.  But 
the  burden  of  those  in  prison  kept  coming  heavier  upon  me. 
I  told  my  friends  I  must  go  and 

PREACH  THE  GOSPEL  TO  PRISONERS 

but  they   for  a  time  thought  me  almost   crazy.     But  as 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  29 

one  of  old,  I  felt  that  "Woe  is  me  if  I  preach  not  the 
Gospel."  So  I  gladly  obeyed  the  divine  call  and  went  for- 
ward. 

But  I  was  not  led  into  this  work  by  any  morbi'd  senti- 
mentalism  or  enthusiasm.  These  would  have  worn  off  when 
the  novelty  was  gone.  No,  this  work  was  given  me  of  God, 
who  Himself  laid  the  burden  of  the  convict  world  upon  my 
heart.  Day  and  night  there  came  up  before  me  the  cry  of 
despair  from  inside  prison  walls — the  wail  of  woe  from  those 
in  dungeons  whose  hearts  were  breaking  and  whose  minds 
were  shattered  and  whose  souls  were  lost  in  despair,  and 
the  call  came  direct  from  the  mouth  of  the  Lord,  "'Go  and 
stand  in  the  breach!  Tell  them  of  a  Savior's  love — of  a 
way  of  escape  through  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  is 
mighty  to  save  and  strong  to  deliver  them  from  the  snares 
of  the  enemy  that  has  sought  to  destroy  them  soul  and 
body.  Tell  them  there  is  deliverance  for  the  captive.  Tell 
them  there  is  consolation  in  the  gospel  of  Christ  for  those 
who  are  heart-broken  and  forsaken  and  forgotten  by  all 
but  an  omnipotent  God.  Tell  them  that  God  lives  and 
rules  and  reigns  in  heaven  and  is  able  to  save  to  the  utter- 
most and  to  comfort  in  their  dying  hours  with  the  hope  of 
eternal  life  beyond  this  vale  of  tears." 

But  how  could  I  go  ?  The  Lord  Himself  showed  me  how 
to  go  and  where  to  go  and  that  I  was  to  leave  results  to 
Him  and  He  would  give  the  increase — that  He  would  mul- 
tiply the  bread  and  fish  for  the  hungry  multitudes — He 
would  feed  the  famished  souls  to  whom  He  sent  me,  just  as 
when  He  walked  this  sin-cursed  earth — that  He  was  the 
same  yesterday,  today  and  forever.  I  saw  that  my  life 
must  be  entirely  and  forever  surrendered  to  the  Lord  for 
His  service,  and  that  my  future  was  to  be  left  entirely  in 


30  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

the  hands  of  the  Master  whose  I  am  and  whom  I  serve. 

Thus  the  call  came  day  after  day  and  night  after  night 
until  I  believe  I  should  have  gone  insane  had  I  not  then 
and  there  yielded  my  time  and  talent,  all  I  had  or  ever 
would  have,  to  the  service  of  Christ  to  go  just  when  and 
where  He  would  have  me  go,  do  as  He  would  have  me  do, 
and  trust  Him  for  my  support.  I  was  shown  that  I  would 
never  come  to  want.  I  was  made  to  understand  that  these 
poor  unfortunates  in  prison  were  just  as  dear  to  God's  heart 
as  I  was  and  that  souls  would  be  required  at  my  hands  were 
I  to  fail  to  comply  with  the  commission  to  go  and  lift  up 
the  fallen  and  comfort  the  dying  and  relieve  those  distressed 
in  body  and  mind.  I  was  made  to  know  that  there  was 
power  in  prayer  and  that  God  could  save  the  very  lowest 
criminal  or  the  worst  woman  on  earth  and  by  the  trans- 
forming influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  the  cleansing 
blood  of  Jesus,  save,  purify  and  sanctify  and  lift  them  up 
even  within  the  pearly  gates  of  heaven;  and  that  instead  of 
devils  in  human  form,  they  could  be  made  saints  that  could 
take  up  the  glad  refrain  unto  Him  that  had  redeemed  them 
and  washed  them  in  his  own  blood  and  made  them  kings 
and  priests  unto  God. 

Yes,  God  called  me.  And  His  name  shall  be  exalted 
through  all  eternity  for  what  He  has  done  for  me  and 
through  me  during  all  these  years.  His  has  been  the  hand 
that  fed,  clothed  and  supported  me.  Never  has  God  failed 
me  in  this  pligrim  journey  and  He  has  supplied  all  my 
needs.  My  heart  goes  out  in  gratitude  and  thanksgiving 
while  I  write,  for  all  He  has  done  for  me.  O,  the  heights 
and  depths,  lengths  and  breadths  of  His  boundless  love  for 
lost  humanity!  How  wonderfully  has  He  led  me!  How 
His  guiding  hand,  His  protecting  care  have  been  over  me! 


OR   A    LABOR  OF   LOVE  3! 

Amid  discouragements,  disappointments  and  misunder- 
standings God  has  given  me  victory  through  the  blood  of 
our  precious,  loving  Savior ;  and  I  know  that  He  is  able  to 
do  exceedingly  abundantly  above  all  we  can  ask  or  think. 

When  I  saw  the  criminal  at  the  bar  of  justice,  I  was 
reminded  that  we  must  all  soon  appear  at  the  judgment  bar 
of  God.  Then  I  saw  that  the  Lord  wanted  me  to  tell  of  a 
Mighty  Deliverer  from  the  sins  of  intemperance,  unbelief, 
skepticism,  infidelity,  covetousness,  licentiousness  and  hypoc- 
risy. My  eyes  were  opened  to  see  that  thousands  of  poor 
helpless  souls  were  drifting  to  their  eternal  doom  without 
God  and  without  hope,  and  that  ofttimes  in  their  hours  of 
most  desperate  need  there  was  no  one  to  help,  no  one  to 
point  them  to  the  blessed  Savior  and  to  really  snatch  them 
as  "brands  from  the  burning." 

Then  I  took  courage  and  said,  "Yes,  Lord,  I  will  go  and 
do  my  best  to  help  save  them  from  destruction  and  an  eter- 
nity in  hell."  Since  then  I  have  spent  more  than  twenty 
years  of  constant  toil  among  the  masses  and  have  reason  to 
declare  that  God  has  given  me  success  beyond  what  I  could 
have  thought  possible. 

Multitudes  have  been  saved,  representing  all  ranks  and 
stations  of  life.  Many  are  today  singing  the  songs  of  the 
redeemed  with  the  glorified  hosts  in  the  other  world,  who 
were  counted  by  many  to  be  beyond  redemption,  already 
doomed  and  lost  forever. 

For. such  I  have  taken  courage  and  have  pleaded  before 
the  Lord  His  written  Word,  asking  for  their  soul's  salva- 
tion ;  and  now  they  are  forever  with  the  Lord.  O  faithless 
one,  is  there  anything  too  hard  for  the  Lord  ?  And  has  He 
not  told  us  "All  things  are  possible  to  him  that  believeth" 
and  "Him  that  cometh  unto  Me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out" 


32  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

and  that  "if  we  confess  our  sins  He  is  faithful  and  just  to 
forgive  us  our  sins  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteous- 
ness"? During  these  years  that  I  have  stepped  out  on  His 
promises  I  have  proved  that  His  word  never  fails.  It  is 
faith  in  the  living  God  which  brings  results  in  the  salva- 
tion of  immortal  souls.  Never  have  I  doubted  God's  power 
to  save  the  vilest  person,  and  now  I  want  to  tell,  for  His 
glory,  just  a  little  of  what  God  has  wrought  as  well  as 
show  something  of  what  needs  to  be  done.  Bless  the  Lord, 
O  my  soul,  for  a  faith  prompted  of  the  Spirit  that  will 
not  waver — a  confidence  in  God  which  takes  no  denial  but 
cries  "It  must  be  done."  In  answer  to  such  a  faith,  crim- 
inals of  the  deepest  dye  have  been  awakened  and  saved  and 
women  of  the  worst  possible  character  have  been  converted 
and  reformed  and  purified,  and  some  have  been  set  apart 
for  the  service  of  God  and  have  done  a  mighty  work.  Oth- 
ers, as  we  have  said,  have  gone  to  swell  the  grand,  triumph- 
ant strain  around  the  throne  of  God,  where  angels  and 
archangels  unite  to  make  all  heaven  resound  with  the  praises 
of  our  King — among  those  of  whom  it  is  said,  "These  are 
they  which  came  up  through  great  tribulation  and  have 
washed  their,  robes  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of 
the  Lamb."  After  I  see  the  King  in  His  beauty,  clothed  in 
majesty  and  glory  and  power,  I  want  to  look  in  the  faces 
of  those  whom  God  has  used  me  to  help,  who  have  come  up 
from  inside  prison  walls  and  from  haunts  of  sin-— yea,  from 
the  scaffold  itself — -those  who  have  died  in  the  triumphs  of 
a  living  faith,  victorious  over  death,  hell  and  the  grave. 

Since  my  call  to  the  work  of  the  Lord  He  has  caused 
many  homes  to  be  opened  to  me  and  has  given  me  many 
very  dear  friends.  Among  those  of  earlier  years  were 
dear  Brother  and  Sister  H.  L.  Hastings,  of  Boston,  who 


OR   A    LA DOR   OF    LOVE  33 

kindly  gave  me  a  home  and  cared  for  me  in  sickness  and 
special  time  of  need.  And  in  later  years  are  those  at  the 
Missionary  Training  Home  at  Tabor,  Iowa,  with  whom  I 
have  made  my  headquarters  since  1895.  I  would  specially 
mention  Mrs.  Hattie  Worcester  Kelley,  who  had  a  call  from 
God  to  assist  me  in  prison  work  and  traveled  some  with 
me  until  her  health  failed;  also  Mrs.  Georgia  Worcester 
and  her  husband,  and  her  father,  Elder  Weavers,  who  is 
president  of  the  Home ;  with  their  faithful  helpers  in  charge 
and  assisting  in  the  work,  who  have  given  me  a  hearty  wel- 
come among  them. 

It  was  here  I  became  more  directly  interested  in  foreign 
missionary,  work.  I  have  at  different  times  taken  with  me 
in  my  prison  and  slum  mission  work  several  of  the  mission- 
aries now  in  foreign  lands.  Among  these  are  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wm.  Worcester,  now  in  Africa,  whom  I  accompanied  on 
their  way  as  far  as  London ;  Grace  Yarrett,  recently  sailed 
for  India,  and  a  number  of  others. 

FAMILY  REUNION  AFTER  A  SEPARATION  OF 
FIFTY-TWO  YEARS. 

The  following  from  a  paper  published  in  Elkhart,  Ind., 
December,  1902,  under  the  above  heading,  will  explain 
itself: 

J.  M.  Ryder  of  Indianapolis,  Ind. ;  Emanuel  Ryder  of  Bryan,  O  : 
Elizabeth  Ryder  Wheaton,  prison  evangelist,  and  Lida  Ryder  Hoff- 
man of  this  city  met  in  a  family  reunion  Dec.  8,  after  a  separation 
of  fifty-two  years,  this  being  the  first  time  in  all  these  years  that 
the  brothers  and  sisters,  who  were  left  orphans  in  early  childhood, 
have  been  together.  *  *  *  The  brothers  and  sisters  sat  for  a 
group  picture  as  a  memento  of  the  day,  and  left  for  their  different 
missions  and  homes,  not  likely  to  all  meet  again  this  side  of  the 
great  River. 

I  also  give  the  reader  a  sketch  written  by  my  brother  and 


J.   M.  RYDER,  MRS.  E.  RYDER  WHEATON,      EMANUEL  RYDER, 

MRS.    LIDA  RYDER  HOFFMAN." 


JOHN    RYDER,    DECEASED. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  35 

published  in  his  home  paper  at  Bryan,  O.,  some  years  since. 

Like  Moses  and  the  prophets  of  old;  like  Jesus  and  his  disci- 
ples ;  like  Martin  Luther  and  John  Wesley,  and  a  host  of  other  great 
lights  who  have  been  chosen  at  different  times  to  be  teachers  and 
leaders  of  the  children  of  earth,  so  in  like  manner  and  like  purpose 
was  Elizabeth  Ryder  Wheaton  chosen. 

Her  chief  mission  has  been  to  the  inmates  of  jails  and  penitentia- 
ries, reformatories  and  the  lowly  outcasts  in  the  houses  of  perdition, 
among  people  who  never  find  room  in  the  pews. 

Unconnected  with  church  or  other  organization,  but  aided  by  an 
angel  band,  a  Christ  love,  great  charity,  force  of  character  that 
knew  not  fear  where  duty  called,  she  has  worked  for  the  uplifting 
of  the  fallen.  % 

For  twenty  years  she  has  toiled  and "  struggled  in  her  great  life 
work,  giving  her  teachings,  her  songs  and  her  prayers,  shedding 
tears  of  love  and  sympathy  for  the  poor  souls  in  the  bondage  of  sin. 

For  twenty  years  she  has  traveled  up  and  down  her  home  land 
and  several  foreign  countries. 

The  world  her  country,  to  do  good  her  religion,  giving  her  light, 
her  life,  wherever  the  most  needed;  never  stopping,  except  from 
sickness  or  exhaustion  from  overwork;  often  meeting  friends  on 
the  long  and  rugged  road  who  gave  her  sympathy,  shelter  and  food; 
at  other  times  the  floor  her  couch  and  but  little  to  eat — but  whether 
good  or  bad  conditions,  always  thankful. 

In  her  chosen  work,  in  the  past  twenty  years,  no  person  has  done 
more  good  or  has  had  so  much  influence  in  causing  people  to  lead 
better  lives,  to  quit  sinning,  to  get  out  of  hell  and  enjoy  the  happi- 
ness that  follows  from  leading  conscientious,  truer  lives. 

Her  good  intentions,  her  words  of  warning  and  sympathy,  her 
sweet  soul  songs  of  love,  her  prayers  in  angelic  power,  have  moved 
the  people  outside  of  the  churches  in  the  different  avocations  and 
walks  of  life  as  they  had  never  been  moved  before,  the  masses  per- 
ceiving by  subtle  agency  that  here  was  a  person  deserving  love, 
respect  and  honor. 

She  had  great  influence  with  the  employees  of  the  different  rail- 
way companies,  the  good-will  of  the  superintendents  of  many  of  the 
great  railway  lines  of  the  country,  frequently  getting  passes  from 


36  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

New  York  City  to  San   Francisco  and  return,   a  distance   of  seven 
thousand  miles,  for  herself  and  companion. 

She  has  spoken  in  more  reformatories,  jails  and  penitentiaries, 
and,  I  believe,  done  more  good,  unconnected  with  any  organization, 
than  any  other  in  the  twenty  years. 

HER   LIFE   HISTORY. 

It  is  too  long  a  story  to  attempt  to  go  into  details — to  tell  of 
her  trials,  hardships  and  sickness;  to  tell  of  her  individual  suc- 
cesses, as  well  as  her  successes  when  she  has  swayed  great  bodies 
of  people,  moving  the  half  of  them  to  tears,  causing  them  to  have 
higher  thoughts,  better  motives,  and  to  bless  the  hour  she  was 
among  them;  or  of  how  she  entered  the  southern  stockades  alone, 
even  when  warned  by  the  Warden  tha^i  her  life  might  be  taken,  and 
in  ten  minutes  had  the  inmates  as  tractable  as  little  children,  where 
the  officials  would  not  enter,  except  in  a  body  and  thoroughly  armed; 
how  she  stood  her  ground  when  menaced  by  drunken  western  des- 
peradoes; or.  of  the  times  she  divided  her  raiment  and  her  scant 
purse  with  the  destitute,  and  the  many  times  she  escaped  great  dan- 
ger by  being  forewarned,  etc. 

Bereft  of  both  parents  at  the  age  of  five  years,  and  cared  for  by 
cold  and  indifferent  strangers,  she  misses  the  mother's  love,  guidance, 
sympathy  and  protection. 

When  she  started  out  on  her  mission  she  left  a  good  home  with 
all  the  substantiate  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life,  with  but  little 
education,  without  money  or  friends,  alone  to  travel  unbeaten  paths, 
to  do  a  work  that  no  one  had  ever  tried  before;  untrained  in  the 
great  work  she  was  to  follow,  but  impelled  by  a  higher  Spirit  force 
she  could  not  resist.  "Do  this  work.  I  will  be  with  you  to  the  end. 
When  great  troubles  come,  I  will  be  your  shield  and  your  helper.  I 
will  warn  you  of  great  danger.  I  will  protect  your  life.  You  will 
gather  many  sheaves,  and,  when  you  are  through  with  earth,  have  a 
high  place  in  the  heavenly  abode." 

Whenever  needed,  the  angel  band  assists  her  to  say  the  right 
words  for  the  time  and  occasion,  according  to  perceptions  and  con- 
ceptions of  the  people  addressed. 

She  is  gifted  with  a  voice  that  is  always  musical,  clear  and  dis- 
tinct, and  of  such  compass  that  it  can  be  heard  a  mile,  or  down  to 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  37 

the  minor  notes,  but  always  with  the  pathos  that  touches  the  tender 
chords  of  the  soul. 

Now  she  is  old,  broken  in  health  and  strength.  Soon  she  must 
lay  her  weary  body  down,  a  willing  sacrifice  for  the  lowest  children 
of  earth. 

And  now  with  this  brief  outline  of  the  work,  the  life  and  the 
powerful  soul  magic  of  Elizabeth  Ryder  Wheaton,  I  close. 

Respectfully,  EMANUEL  RYDER, 

Brother  of  Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton. 


CHAPTER  II. 
A  Letter  to  My  Prison  Children. 

You,  dear  ones,  are  my  especial  care  and  have  been  for 
over  twenty  long  years;  and  your  eternal  good  will  con- 
tinue in  a  sense  to  be  first  in  my  thoughts  while  life  lasts. 

My  own  childhood  was  lonely  and  desolate.  As  I  have 
already  told  you,  my  father  died  when  I  was  one  year  old, 
and  mother  died  when  I  was  only  six.  I  was  taken  from 
my  mother's  grave  by  an  old  man  who  had,  with  his  wife, 
asked  mother  for  me  before  she  died.  My  stepfather  went 
to  law  with  my  grandfather,  who  was  guardian  for  myself 
and  sister,  for  my  father's  fortune,  and  the  suit  was  carried 
from  one  court  to  another  until  all  was  gone  and  we  little 
children  were  penniless. 

Sister  and  I  were  reared  by  our  grandparents,  and  were 
given  a  very  limited  education.  We  were  taught  to  work 
as  rigidly  as  if  we  were  paupers.  The  experience  was  hard 
but  I  can  now  see  how  good  it  was  for  me  in  after  years  to 
know  how  to  do  all  kinds  of  work  and  be  able  to  do  with 
my  might  what  my  hands  found  to  do. 

All  my  life  I  have  known  much  of  SORROW  AND  DISAP- 
POINTMENT. It  has  seemed  that  I  have  never  been  allowed 
to  keep  long  anything  that  I  loved.  When  I  was  a  child, 
my  pets  would  sicken  and  die,  and  the  friends  that  I  loved 
best  would  either  move  away  from  me  or  die ;  and  my  heart 
was  being  continually  crushed  and  broken  by  these  trials. 

I  loved  to  learn  and  was  passionately  fond  of  music,  but 
I  was  not  permitted  to  gratify  my  desires  in  either  direc- 
tion. Why  all  this  was  true,  I  know  not,  unless  it  was  that 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  39 

I  might  learn  deeper  lessons  of  sympathy  and  compassion 
for  others  that  are  in  trouble. 

Perhaps,  dear  ones,  because  of  these  very  experiences  I 
can  feel  more  deeply  and  tenderly  for  you  and  I  want  to  tell 
you  that  amid  all  the  sorrows  of  earth  I  have  found  one 
Friend  that  has  never  forgotten  or  forsaken  me  and  that 
has  promised  never  to  leave  me.  And  this  same  Jesus  loves 
you.  If  you  but  give  Him  your  hearts  He  will  never  fail 
you.  Though  all  the  world  should  forsake  and  despise  you, 
Jesus  loves  you  just  the  same. 

It  is  He  that  has  put  into  my  heart  this  love  for  you  and 
your  souls'  salvation  that  I  cannot  explain;  this  love  that 
grows  deeper  and  stronger  and  that  can  only  be  made  plain 
in  the  judgment.  He  has  taught  me  to  feel  for  you  when 
you  are  forsaken  and  forgotten,  when  even  friends  turn 
away  because  you  are  doomed  to  the  prison  cell,  the  stripes, 
and  even  the  scaffold. 

Often  you  are  misunderstood  and  misjudged,  and  some- 
times you  grow  bitter  towards  every  one,  and  sometimes 
you  censure  your  best  friends.  I  plead  with  you  to  look 
on  the  bright  side.  Think  of  all  God  has  done  for  you  and 
how  wonderful  it  is  that  He  loves  you  with  all  your  sins, 
that  He  loves  your  precious,  immortal  souls. 

You  are  my  children.  For  Jesus'  sake,  and  yours,  I  am 
a  homeless  wanderer  on  earth.  I  have  given  up  home  and 
friends  and  have  gone  into  the  darkest  places  of  earth,  and 
have  endured  hardships  and  faced  danger  of  every  kind.  I 
have  endured  untold  sorrow  of  mind  and  heart.  I  have  wept 
and  prayed  night  and  day,  and  for  you  I  have  sacrificed  all. 

But  dear  ones,  notwithstanding  all  this,  I  am  happy  in  the 
love  of  Jesus.  His  love  is  everything  to  my  heart.  His 
love  and  sympathy  is  enough  for  me,  and  I  know  that  He  is 


4O  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

able  to  provide  all  that  I  need.     He  has  kept  me  nearly 
sixty  years,  and  I  am  sure  that  He  will  not  now  forsake  me. 

Let  this  encourage  you,  dear  prisoners,  to  know  that 
God  loves  and  cares  for  you.  When  the  way  looks  the 
darkest,  when  all  hope  fails,  when  the  last  friend  has  for- 
saken you,  then  look  up  to  Jesus  and  believe  His  word.  I 
know  your  trials  are  hard  to  bear.  I  think  of  you  as  you 
leave  the  jail  for  the  penitentiary  with  the  handcuffs  on  and 
the  sheriff  and  the  deputy  guarding  you  so  closely,  and  the 
world  against  you.  I  think  of  you  as  the  prison  doors  close 
behind  you.  I  think  of  you  in  your  loneliness  as  the  days 
and  months  and  perhaps  years  go  by,  and  again  I  say,  yes,  I 
know  your  trials  are  hard  to  bear.  But  look  up  through 
the  dark  clouds  and  remember  that  God  lives  and  that  He 
loves  you.  In  your  little  lonely  prison  cell  He  is  with 
you  and  is  waiting  to  save  you.  Do  not  conceal  your  sins, 
for  God's  Word  says,  "He  that  covereth  his  sin  shall  not 
prosper;  but  whoso  confesseth  and  forsaketh  them  shall 
find  mercy." 

Let  the  past  be  cleansed  by  the  blood  of  Jesus.  If  you 
trust  Him,  He  has  promised  to  separate  your  sins  as  far 
from  you  as  the  east  is  from  the  west.  Do  not  rest  until 
His  Spirit  tells  you  this  is  done.  Then,  "forgetting  the 
things  that  are  behind,"  press  forward  to  those  things 
that  are  before. 

Obey  the  rules.  Show  by  your  daily  life  that  you  intend 
to  do  right,  the  very  best  you  know.  If  those  in  authority 
over  you  seem  to  be  unkind  or  unjust,  bear  what  comes  as 
brave  soldiers.  Even  inside  of  prison  walls  you  can  win 
glorious  victories  over  self  and  sin. 

There  is  joy  in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth.  I 
seek  to  show  you  the  way  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  where 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  4! 

there  is  no  more  temptation,  no  sin,  no  sorrow,  no  pain; 
to  the  place  where  Jesus  has  gone  to  prepare  a  home  for 
those  who  love  Him,  follow  Him  and  trust  Him. 

My  heart  yearns  over  you  in  your  sad  exile  from  wife, 
children,  mother,  father,  husband,  brother,  sister,  friends. 
Truly  the  way  of  the  transgressor  is  hard. 

But,  my  prison  children,  I  beg  of  you  do  not  go  from 
one  prison  to  another.  Flee  from  sin.  I  do  not  and  dare 
not  smooth  over  your  sins.  Prove  yourselves  worthy  of 
the  confidence  of  good  people.  Give  God  your  hearts  and 
be  true  to  Him  and  He  will  not  forsake  you. 

Some  of  you  are  doomed  to  the  scaffold!  How  long,  O 
Lord,  how  long  must  such  things  be  in  a  Christian  land? 
O,  that  I  had  the  power  to  abolish  capital  punishment! 
But  I  will  do  all  I  can  to  help  you  prepare  for  death.  Jesus 
loves  you.  He  was  taken  from  prison  and  executed  as  a 
criminal.  He  was  innocent,  yet  He  suffered  death  for  a 
guilty  world.  He  was  tempted  in  all  points  like  as  we  are, 
yet  without  sin.  ''And  being  tempted,  He  is  able  to  succor 
them  that  are  tempted."  And  though  you  pass  through  the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  if  you  but  trust  Him,  He  will 
go  with  you  and  you  need  fear  no  evil. 


GIVING   THE    BOYS    COUNSEL. 


CHAPTER  III. 
A  Plea  for  the  Prisoner. 

IN  THE  SHADOW  OF  THE  WALL. 
BY  OLLA  F.  BEARD. 

(The  writer  of  this  poem  was  a  personal  acquaintance  and  friend.  At 
the  time  the  poem  was  written  her  father  was  warden  of  the  pentltentiary 
at  Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  and  she  took  great  Interest  in  his  work. — E.  R.  W.) 

Oh,  those  wond  'rous  gloomy  walls ! 
What  a  chill  their  shadow  calls 
To  creep  and  tingle  through  our  veins! 
Moving  all  our  soul  contains 

Of  pity  for  the  woes  within — 
Those  who  move  within  this  pall, 

Those  who  bear  a  load  of  sin, 
In  the  shadow  of  that  wall. 

Yes,  you  think  their  lot  is  hard; 
So  do  all  you  can  t 'retard 
Their  sad  downward  course  in  time, 
And  save  them  from  a  greater  crime. 

But  pause  and  come  with  me  to  view 
Various  pictures  in  the  hall 

Of  the  innocent  and  true, 
In  the  shadow  of  this  wall. 

There's  a  mother,  good  and  true, 
With  a  face  of  palest  hue; 
Eyes  are  dimmed  and  faint  to-day, 
With  their  brightness  washed  away 

By  the  tears  she's  nightly  shed; 
Yet  she  does  not  fail  to  call 

Blessings  on  her  dear  boy's  head, 
In  the  shadow  of  the  wall. 

There's  a  father,  too,  bowed  o'er 
With  age,  and  his  head  is  hoar. 
Ah!    it  surely  broke  his  heart 


44  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

With  his  honored  name  to  part. 

Now  instead  of  his  boy's  arm, 
A  cane-stalk  keeps  him  from  a  fall, 

As  he  walks  about  his  farm, 
In  the  shadow  of  the  wall. 

There's  a  wife,  too,  in  the  gloom, 
Yet  within  her  heart  there's  room 
For  the  one  whose  name  she  bears; 
She  will  share  e'en  now  his  cares. 

Vows  were  said  to  God  above, 
And,  tho'  friends  forget  to  call, 

She  will  keep  her  vow  of  love, 
In  the  shadow  of  the  wall. 

There  are  children,  bright  and  gay, 
Now  at  school  and  now  at  play; 
Why  do  playmates  push  them  off, 
Only  at  their  tears  to  scoff? 

Can  innocence,  then,  guilty  be? 
Why  are  they  shunned,  each  one  and  all? 

Ah!    these  children  e'en  we  see, 
In  the  shadow  of  the  wall. 

And  O,  for  shame!  to  scorn  some  one 
For  the  deed  another's  done; 
For  their  road  is  hard  at  best; 
They  should  never  once  have  guessed, 

From  the  things  you  do  and  say, 
That  you  once  those  facts  recall — 

How  they're  living  day  by  day 
In  the  shadow  of  the  wall. 

But  a  word  we'd  say  for  him 
Who  inhabits  those  walls  dim: 
Shun  him  not;    help  if  you  can — 
Let  him  try  to  be  a  man. 

When  he's  paid  now  for  his  sin, 
Let  not  scorn  bring  other  falls, 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  45 

Just  because  he  once  has  been 
In  the  shadow  of  the  walls. 

He  has  yet  a  heart,  tho'  scarred; 
He  has  yet  a  soul,  tho'  marred; 
And  he  has  to  live  and  try 
Till  his  time  shall  come  to  die. 

Sweet  Charity,  that  suffereth  long, 
Let  us  now  as  guard  install. 

She  will  lead  him  from  the  wrong — 
From  the  shadow  of  the  wall. 

We  would  not  pet  the  sin  and  crime; 
Let  reproof  fall  in  its  time. 
But  reproof  should  have  an  end, 
When  the  sinner  tries  to  mend! 

Give  him  every  chance  you  can — 
Lend  a  helping  hand  to  all; 

Lead  the  woman  or  the  man 
From  the  shadow  of  the  wall. 

A  LETTER  TO  PRISON  OFFICERS. 

DEAR  PRISON  MANAGERS  :  You  and  I  are  trying  to  help 
the  prisoners  to  a  better  life.  We  want  to  elevate,  to  lift  up 
these  men  and  women  to  a  higher  plane  of  existence.  How 
are  you  to  proceed?  What  are  you  to  do,  is  the  question. 
How  are  you  to  command  the  respect  of  those  under  you? 
Just  where  to  draw  the  line,  and  how  to  enforce  discipline  ? 
What  advantage  will  you  give  to  the  men  who  are  striving 
to  obey  rules,  and  do  what  is  right?  Something  must  be 
done,  and  done  soon.  The  criminal  classes  must  be  reached, 
reformed,  saved  and  sent  out  of  prison  better  prepared  to 
face  the  world  and  the  temptations  which  will  be  thrust  upon 
them  at  every  turn.  Great  responsibility  rests  upon  you. 
Many  of  you  are  doing  nobly  and  accomplishing  great  good. 

There  is  hope  for  every  prisoner.     You  can  reach  them 


46  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

by  kindness.  Brutality  will  never  accomplish  anything  in 
the  way  of  prison  reform.  By  such  a  course  a  man  is  often 
turned  out  of  prison  a  demon,  a  fiend  in  human  form,  or  an 
idiotic  criminal. 

But  to  make  him  a  good  man,  a  noble  creature,  as  God 
intended  he  should  be,  he  must  have  kindness  shown  him. 
Be  firm  and  honorable  in  all  your  dealings  with  the  convict, 
for  he  has  his  rights,  and  they  should  be  respected  if  we 
are  ever  going  to  make  the  prison  world  better. 

Let  us  ask  God  for  help  to  know  how  to  reach  the  man- 
hood, the  womanhood,  the  better  nature  in  the  creature  God 
has  seen  fit  in  His  wise  providence  to  make  just  a  little  lower 
than  the  angels,  in  His  own  likeness  and  image.  He  in- 
tended all  should  be  free  and  equal,  but  the  people  license 
the  saloon,  the  gambling  den  and  the  brothel  to  degrade  their 
brothers  and  sisters.  Some  say  these  are  necessary  evils ! 
I  say  never,  never !  Let  there  be  better  conditions. 

There  is  hope  for  the  sinner  if  we  only  get  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  teach  us  how  to  reach  him.  I  never  go  into  the 
presence  of  convicts  without  earnest  prayer  to  God  to  give 
me  wisdom,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  to  teach  and  guide  me 
what  to  say  and  sing,  and  how  to  reach  their  hearts.  God 
has  given  me  what  success  I  have  had  in  helping  the  crimi- 
nal classes,  in  giving  hope  to  the  discouraged  and  in  reliev- 
ing the  minds  of  some  who  were  partially  deranged.  Oh, 
this  wholesale  slaughter  of  men's  minds !  It  is  horrible.  It 
is  heart-rending.  And  yet  some  go  right  on  committing 
the  greatest  crime  against  these  men,  by  robbing  them  of 
their  reason  which  God  intended  them  to  enjoy  as  their 
birthright. 

Which  is  the  greater  crime,  the  whipping  post  and  the 
lash  with  all  their  attendant  horrors  and  misery,  or  the  iron 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  47 

rule  that  crushes  out  all  hope  in  the  name  of  discipline?  I 
believe  in  law  and  order,  and  that  men  must  be  in  subjection 
to  rules  and  regulations.  I  always  urge  upon  them  implicit 
obedience  and  subjection  to  the  rules  of  the  prison.  But 
these  should  be  reasonable  and  humane. 

What  you  and  I  need  is  to  know  our  man  and  then  we 
will  know  how  to  deal  with  him.  Study  human  nature  as 
well  as  the  law,  and  study  the  law  of  the  all- wise  God  in 
the  Bible  and  see  if  you  will  not  have  a  clear  conscience  as 
well  as  a  clear  brain  to  manage  and  control  those  under  your 
direction. 

1  know  prisons  that  are  regulated  entirely  by  kindness, 
and  oh,  the  blessed,  restful,  quieting  influence  there  is  there, 
and  scarcely  any  insane.  All  are  satisfied  with  the  treatment 
they  receive  and  they  are  willing  to  die  for  their  officers. 
I  know  these  things,  for  I  am  behind  the  scenes. 

After  long  years  of  service  as  a  prison  missionary,  in 
nearly  all  the'  state  prisons  in  all  the  states  and  territories, 
I  find  only  an  ever  increasing  desire  to  be  a  worker  together 
with  Christ  in  reaching  the  masses  of  prisoners  who  are 
incarcerated  in  our  state,  county  and  city  prisons.  My  suc- 
cess has  largely  been  due  to  my  sincere  and  intense  desire 
to  lead  them  to  a  better  life  here  and  life  eternal  in  heaven, 
and  to  the  victory  gained  over  myself  to  never  let  anything 
or  anybody  prevent  my  doing  all  I  could  for  the  prisoner, 
as  if  he  were  my  own  child  or  brother.  Again,  my  deter- 
mination has  been  to  give  all  a  fair  trial  and  a  liberal  amount 
of  confidence.  Yes,  we  must  place  ourselves  in  their  condi- 
tion; let  our  boy  or  brother,  our  mother  or  sister  be  in 
prison,  let  us  think  how  we  would  exercise  every  means  we 
had  in  reaching  or  relieving  them. 

All  prisoners  are  human,  and  yet,  how  few  professors 


48  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

of  religion  show  interest  in  them.  They  are  doubted  at 
every  turn.  Daggers  are  driven  to  hearts  which  are  long- 
ing for  a  better  life,  a  purer  atmosphere,  a  new  creation. 
Poor  souls !  God  pity  them.  O  the  hearts  that  cry  out  for 
better  things!  the  souls  that  are  yearning  for  the  good  and 
true!  O  the  thousands  of  prisoners  who  may  be  diamonds 
in  the  rough,  jewels  for  whom  Christ  died.  Souls,  immor- 
tal souls  are  at  stake.  We  must  soon  meet  these  things  at 
the  judgment.  O  to  be  clear  of  the  censure,  the  rebuke, 
the  reproof  of  God  Almighty  in  the  final  day  of  accounts. 

O  brother,  sister,  have  we  had  charity  that  suffereth  long 
and  is  kind?  Have  we  tried  by  example  and  precept  to 
show  the  criminals  that  we  were  really  their  friends  and 
sincerely  cared  for  their  souls?  How  long  has  the  good 
Lord  borne  with  us,  and  shall  we  not  be  in  earnest  to  save 
those  who  are  not  Christians,  to  encourage  them  to  a  better 
life,  to  cheer  up  the  dying  convict,  to  show  them  there  is  a 
God  in  Israel  who  hears  and  answers  prayer,  one  who  said, 
"Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth 
them  that  fear  Him"  ? 

WORTH  WHILE. 

It  is  easy  enough  to  be  pleasant 

When  life  flows  by  like  a  song, 
But  the  man  \vorth  while  is  the  one  who  will  smile 

When  everything  goes  dead  wrong. 
For  the  test  of  the  heart  is  trouble, 

And  it  always  comes  with  the  years, 
And  the  smile  that  is  worth  the  praise  of  the  earth 

Is  the  smile  that  shines  through  tears. 

It  is  easy  enough  to  be  prudent 

When  nothing  tempts  you  to  stray; 
When  without  or  within  no  voice  of  sin 

Is  luring  your  soul  away. 


OR   A   LABOR   OF    LOVE  49 

But  it  is  only  a  negative  virtue 

Until  it  is  tried  by  fire, 
And  the  life  that  is  worth  the  honor  of  earth 

Is  the  one  that  resisteth  desire. 

By  the  cynic,  the  sad,  the  fallen, 

Who  had  no  strength  for  the  strife, 
The  world's  highway  is  cumbered  to-day; 

They  make  up  the  item  of  life. 
But  the  virtue  that  conquers  passion, 

And  the  sorrow  that  hides  in  a  smile — 
It  is  these  that  are  worth  the  homage  of  earth, 
For  we  find  them  but  once  in  a  while. 

— ELLA  WHEELER  WILCOX. 

PREJUDICE. 

I  find  but  little  difference  betwen  humanity  in  prison  walls 
and  the  humanity  outside.  Prisoners  are  our  brothers  and 
our  sisters.  We  must  soon  meet  them  all  at  the  judgment. 
They  are  naturally  supposed  to  be  guilty  of  crime  of  some 
kind.  But  they  are  not  all  criminals.  Wicked  men,  will- 
ing to  shield  themselves,  oftentimes  throw  suspicion  on  oth- 
ers, who  are  placed  under  arrest  and  convicted  by  circum- 
stantial evidence  or  false  testimony.  Others,  of  course,  are 
of  the  worst  types  of  humanity.  Some  of  them  seem  un- 
worthy of  the  name  of  man  or  woman,  yet  even  these  Christ 
died  to  save,  and  God  is  able  to  deliver  them  and  how  shaJ1 
His  name  be  better  glorified  pr  His  power  be  more  manifest, 
than  in  their  transformation? 

Very  many  are  so  prejudiced  against  all  those  who  are 
counted  as  criminals  that  they  believe  them  to  be  utterly 
incapable  of  any  good  and  are  quick  to  believe  that  they 
see  in  them  evidences  of-  the  deepest  depravity. 

A  sad  yet  amusing  illustration  of  this  fact  comes  to  my 
mind.  Chaplain  H.,  of  the  Reformatory  for  Boys  at  Kear- 


50  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

ney,  Nebraska,  is  an  honest-faced,  true-hearted  young  man, 
full  of  zeal  in  the  service  of  God.  At  one  time  when  I 
stopped  at  Kearney  he  called  for  me  at  the  train.  As  I 
looked  at  him  he  said,  with  a  smile,  "Did  you  think  it  was 
one  of  the  boys  whom  the  superintendent  had  sent  for  you  ?" 
I  replied,  "Yes ;  I  did  at  first ;  you  are  so  young,  Mr.  Chap- 
lain ;"  and  then  he  related  to  me  the  following  circumstances 
which  I  give  as  nearly  as  I  can  in  his  own  words : 

"At  one  time  Prof.  Mallalieu  and  myself  had  been  to  Lincoln  on 
business,  and  were  returning  together.  We  were  quietly  resting, 
and  I  was  sitting  with  closed  eyes,  meditating,  when  a  lady  hap- 
pened along  and  recognized  the  Superintendent,  and  said  'Have 
you  get  a  boy  there,  taking  him  to  the  Eeform  School?' 

"Considerably  amused,  he  replied:  'Yes;  this  is  a  very  bad 
fellow;  I  have  had  a  lot  of  trouble  with  him,  and  have  just  recap- 
tured him,  and  now  I  am  watching  to  see  that  he  doesn't  make  his 
escape. '  The  we  man  leaned  over  and,  scanning  my  face  and  f  eat- 
tures,  said:  'He  has  an  awful  bad  look  on  his  face;  you  can  see  he 
is  a  criminal  and  needs  to  be  under  strict  discipline.'  " 

The  dear  young  chaplain  said,  as  he  laughingly  related 
this  instance,  that  he  learned  a  lesson  in  human  nature  that 
day.  That  woman,  who  imagined  that  she  saw  in  the  face 
of  that  young  looking,  honest,  devoted  Christian  young  man 
evidences  of  guilt  and  depravity,  was  only  one  among  thou- 
sands who  are  led  by  prejudice  when  they  imagine  that  they 
are  exercising  great  discernment. 

A    LOOK  INTO  THE   CELL. 

Reader,  could  you  and  I  walk  together  down  the  cell- 
house  corridor  in  almost  any  of  our  large  prisons,  at  almost 
any  hour  of  the  night  and  pause  and  listen  to  the  sighs  and 
smothered  sobs  and  often  to  the  deep  groans  that  might  be 
heard  welling  up  from  hearts  that  are  broken  and  crushed 
by  sorrow  and  remorse;  could  we,  dear  reader,  cast  one 


OR   A   LABOR   OF   LOVE  51 

sidelong  glance  in  passing  the  rounds  of  the  cell-house  with 
the  guard,  who,  with  muffled  tread  wends  his  ceaseless 
march  throughout  the  night,  your  heart,  as  well  as  mine, 
would  be  deeply  moved.  On  those  stone  floors,  guarded 
by  double  locks  and  iron  bars,  as  well  as  by  the  living  sen- 
tinel, you  might  see  many  a  mother's  boy  kneeling  in  silent 
prayer  to  his  mother's  God,  and  as  he  prays  and  communes 
with  his  own  thoughts,  you  might  hear  again  the  groans  of 
anguish  as  the  poor  unfortunate  thinks  of  home  and  mother, 
wife  and  children,  or  other  loved  ones. 

Then  look  with  me  into  that  poor  man's  cell,  void  of  com- 
fort, with  nothing  that  would  remind  you  of  home;  a  close 
narrow  cell,  a  poor  hard  cot,  a  straw  pillow,  if  any,  and  kept 
under  strict  watch  day  and  night;  left  many  times  without 
one  ray  of  hope,  without  a  gleam  of  sunshine  or  a  kind 
word.  I  wonder  there  are  not  scores  of  insane  men  in  our 
state  prisons  for  every  one  that  we  find,  and  there  are  many, 
very  many,  who  are  either  partially  or  entirely  insane.  I  am 
convinced  that  oftentimes  men  are  crazy  when  the  officers 
suppose  they  are  only  obstinate  and  rebellious  and  mean. 
Often  do  I  note  insanity  lurking  in  the  eyes  and  often  as 
the  prisoners  file  past  me  at  the  close  of  a  service  and  I 
clasp  each  one  by  the  hand,  as  is  my  custom,  among  the 
many  who  are  so  glad  to  have  a  kind  word  and  a  hand- 
clasp at  parting  I  notice  those  who  are  not  sane  by  the 
peculiarity  of  the  clasp  of  the  hand.  Some  have  a  clasp 
like  a  mad-man,  others  a  limp,  lifeless  hand-shake,  with  cold, 
clammy  hands.  Oh,  what  wisdom  is  needed  to  know  how 
tc  deal  with  these  poor,  helpless  souls !  I  find  many  of  them 
with  hearts  as  tender  and  sensibilities  as  acute  as  any  I 
meet  outside. 

INSANE   PRISONERS. 

While  I  was  having  a  service  for  the  criminal  insane  at 


52  PRISONS    AND   PRAYER 

Anamosa,  Iowa,  state  prison,  a  young  man  was  very  anxious 
to  see  me  and  tell  me  something.  As  I  waited  to  talk  with 
him  he  said  to  me  in  such  a  pitiful  way,  "Go  and  tell  my 
dear  mother  I  will  try  to  help  her.  Won't  somebody  help 
my  poor  mother?"  This  was  the  burden  of  his  heart.  Poor 


WITH  INSANE  PRISONERS  AT  ANAMOSA,  IOWA. 

boy !  in  his  partial  derangement  his  whole  concern  seemed  to 
be  for  her.     He  is  only  one  among  many ! 

A  TOUCHING  INCIDENT. 

At  one  time  I  was  on  the  train  going  north  from  Indian- 
apolis. My  brother,  J.  M.  Ryder,  was  with  me.  I  was 
singing  a  hymn,  and  walking  to  the  end  of  the  car  as  I  sang 
I  saw  two  men  bound  together  by  handcuffs.  One  of  them 
I  supposed  to  be  an  officer.  He  was  a  fine  looking  man, 
well  dressed.  It  was  a  few  days  before  Christmas,  but  I 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  53 

noticed  some  holly-berries  pinned  to  his  coat.  I  remarked, 
"You  have  holly-berries  before  Christmas  day !"  With  tears 
rolling  down  his  face  he  answered,  "My  little  girl  pinned 
this  on  me.  She  said,  'Papa,  you  will  not  be  here  when 
Christmas  comes,  and  I  will  pin  it  on  now  before  you  go.' ' 

I  said,  "You  are  an  officer,  are  you  not?" 

"Oh,  no!"  he  said,  "I  am  a  prisoner,"  and  then  he  told 
me  his  sad  story.  Money  belonging  to  some  one  else,  a 
relative,  if  I  remember  rightly,  had  been  left  in  his  care. 
Under  pressure  of  need  he  used  some  of  it,  being  confident 
that  he  could  replace  it  before  it  was  needed ;  but  the  short- 
age was  discovered,  he  was  arrested,  found  guilty  and  sen- 
tenced. With  a  broken  heart  he  said,  "I  never  will  live  to 
serve  out  my  sentence.  This  will  surely  kill  me.  I  am  not 
a  thief,  but  I  was  so  sure  I  could  replace  the  money  before 
it  was  needed." 

Reader,  think  you  this  man  was  any  more  a  criminal  at 
heart  than  thousands  who  move  among  men  honored  and 
respected?  Who  can  question  that  there  are  thousands 
who,  perhaps,  do  not  transgress  the  letter  of  the  law,  yet 
more  deliberately  and  wilfully  wrong  their  fellow  men  than 
this  poor  man?  And  this  case  is  only  one  of  many;  and 
where  shall  we  draw  the  line?  Oh,  let  us  have  fervent 
charity  one  for  another. 

I  am  not  biased  in  my  judgment.  I  know  sentimentalism 
is  not  salvation.  That  can  come  only  through  true  repent- 
ance and  faith  in  God  and  must  be  evidenced  by  restitution 
and  good  works;  but  if  you  could  see,  as  I  have  seen,  the 
meetings  in  the  prison  guard-room  between  husband  and 
wife,  mother  and  son,  or  between  fatherland  his  wayward 
boy,  if  you  could  see  the  tears  and  sobs~as  they"  meet  and 
part,  and  above  all  at  the  last  parting  before  execution,  I 


54  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

believe  you  would  never  feel  like  criticising  or  being  harsh 
in  your  judgment  again.  Could  you  have  gone  with  me 
during  these  twenty  years,  could  you  have  had  the  confi- 
dence of  these  prisoners  as  I  have  had  it,  you  would  realize 
that  they  are,  in  very  many  cases,  as  truly  open  to  convic- 
tion and  as  easily  reached  as  those  outside  of  prison  walls, 
and  are  they  not  my  children  ?  Do  I  not  know  their  faults  ? 
Do  they  not  confess  to  me  their  guilt?  But  back  of  all  I 
see  Jesus  hanging  on  the  cross  of  Calvary,  between  two 
thieves,  dying,  and  in  His  death  agony,  while  the  blood  is 
oozing  from  the  print  of  the  thorns  upon  His  brow,  while  the 
eyes  are  growing  glassy  in  death,  with  the  cold  death  sweat 
standing  out  upon  His  face,  I  hear  Him  say  to  the  penitent 
thief,  "This  day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  Paradise."  And 
again,  as  He  remembers  all  those  who  have  so  cruelly 
wronged  Him,  he  cries,  "Father,  forgive  them,  for  they 
know  not  what  they  do."  If  the  Son  of  God  gave  Himself 
for  us,  if  with  His  dying  breath  He  prayed  for  His  perse- 
cutors, if  He  who  knew  no  sin  and  understood  all  hearts 
could  .say,  "They  know  not  what  they  do,"  God  help  us  to 
be  willing  to  forgive  those  who  have  transgressed  the  law 
either  of  God  or  man. 

These  prisoners  need  a  helping  hand,  need  a  friend  with 
wisdom,  tact  and  judgment,  one  in  whose  heart  there  is  the 
one  thought  above  all  others  of  the  need  of  their  immortal 
souls,  their  eternal  destiny. 

You  and  I,  reader,  must  do  our  part  in  reforming  a  lost 
world,  in  saving  lost  sinners.  Then  let  us  remember  how 
good  God  has  been  to  us  by  keeping  us  out  of  prison,  by 
keeping  us  out  of  the  evil  surroundings  and  influences  that 
might  have  brought  us  there.  Let  us  give  the  poor  prison- 
ers a  fair  show  and  fair  play.  Many  of  them  long  for  bet- 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  55 

ter  things,  for  one  more  chance  to  prove  themselves  worthy 
of  the  confidence  and  sympathy  of  their  fellow  men.  After 
twenty  years  of  toil  among  those  who  are  bound,  I  do  bless 
God  that  He  ever  called  me  to  carry  to  those  in  prison  the 
glad  message  of  His  love  and  seek  by  love  and  faith  and 
prayer  to  lift  them  up  to  better  things. 

PREPARED  TO   DIE. 

Once  while  holding  services  in  a  prison,  there  came  to 
me  a  prisoner  saying,  ''Mother,  I  want  to  tell  you  I  was 
saved  since  I  saw  you."  (Only  a  few  days  previous.) 

Then  he  told  me  that  he  was  under  sentence  of  death  and 
that  he  was  so  troubled  that  he  cried  to  God  to  forgive  his 
sins  and  pardon  his  crime,  and  that  God  had  forgiven  him 
and  that  he  was  now  prepared  to  die.  He  said  that  when 
the  Lord  forgave  him  he  was  so  happy  that  the  officers  put 
an  extra  guard  over  him,  thinking  that  he  had  suddenly 
lost  his  mind. 

I  exhorted  him  to  maintain  his  faith  in  God  and  never 
doubt  His  saving  power ;  to  walk  softly  before  God ;  to  keep 
humble  and  meek  and  pray  much.  Truly  there  is  pardon 
for  every  sinner  who,  in  the  depths  of  his  soul,  repents  of 
his  sin.  God's  love  and  power  are  so  great  that  He  will 
save  to  the  uttermost  all  that  come  unto  Him,  not  willing 
that  any  should  perish. 

Reader,  perhaps  you  have  not  the  opportunity  to  know 
these  souls  as  I  know  them,  and  so  to  help  you  understand 
them  I  give  in  other  chapters  many  extracts  in  their  own 
words,  taken  here  and  there  from  the  thousands  of  letters  I 
have  received.  I  believe  this  will  help  you  to  understand 
that  hundreds,  shut  out  from  the  companionship  of  their 
fellow  beings,  are  as  easily  moved  by  kindness,  as  capable 
of  gratitude,  as  easily  won  to  repentance,  as  willing  to  give 


56  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

up  sin,  as  thousands  of  those  outside,  who  perhaps  have 
never  been  tempted  as  they  were  tempted  and  have  never 
fallen  as  they  have  fallen.  In  quoting  from  these  letters 
few  changes  have  been  made,  except  in  spelling,  capitaliza- 
tion and  punctuation. 


Some  young  souls  are  making,  for  a  stated  time, 
This,  their  maiden  effort,  on  the  sea  of  crime. 
Oh,  Christians,  teach  them  early  what  to  me  is  plain; 
Crime  ever  Ms  and  ever  will  result  in  lasting  pain. 
Do  not  be  too  lenient,  nor  too  soon  forgive, 
Lest  all  vice  should  flourish  and  no  virtue  live. 
Society  demands  it,  the  guilty  should  atone — 
But  take  care  you  punish  those,  and  those  alone! 
Keep  them  in  your  prison  till  by  virtue  shown 
They  will  know  what  is  and  what  is  not  their  own. 
But  let  all  be  careful  lest  by  word  or  act 
Those  who  should  reform  them  from  their  good  subtract. 
Rule  them  wisely,  gently — by  some  humane  plan, 
All  their  faults  to  conquer  as  best  becomes  a  Man. 
When  your  work  is  finished  and  their  habits  changed, 
Give  them  honest  labor,  by  the  State  arranged; 
Show  them  honest  labor  can  a  living  gain, 
While  the  social  outcast  harvests  want  and  shame! 
Treat  them  fairly,  kindly;  teach  them  all  the  true 
Will  be  friendly  with  them  while  the  right  they  do. 
Both  principle  and  policy  declare  this  course  is  wise; 
Then  why  longer  act  the  fool  and  wisdom's  voice  despise? 
Crime  never  can  nor  will  decrease  until  in  Wisdom's  School 
Men    learn    the    noted    lesson,    * '  Right    through   Law   should   Rule. ' ' 

—H.  P.  McKnight. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
A  Brief  Pen  Picture  of  Prison  Life. 

For  the  instruction  of  children  and  others  who  have  never 
visited  one  of  our  large  penitentiaries  I  insert  the  following 
sketch  of  such  a  visit  written  by  Mrs.  F.  M.  Lambert,  author 
of  "Holy  Maternity,"  which  was  written  for  this  work : 

The  prisons  and  buildings  connected  with  them  are  enclosed  by  a 
high  stone  wall.  Of  course  there  is  a  gate,  or  gates,  opening  upon 
driveways  leading  into  the  yard  where  the  shops  are  located.  The 
gate  is  securely  locked  and  guarded,  the  guard  having  a  little 
room  built  on  the  wall  orer  the  gate.  There  is  a  main  entrance  to 
the  building  through  which  criminals  as  well  as  visitors  enter.  The 
officer  closes  and  locks  the  large  door  behind  you  upon  entering.  On 
Sabbath  mornings  many  things  are  seen  and  heard  there.  The  offi- 
cers come  in  and  take  up  the  work  of  the  day.  The  warden  or 
deputy  takes  a  large  bunch  of  keys  and  opens  a  side  door  that  leads 
jnto  the  cell  room,  and  the  guards  follow  him  into  the  corridor. 
Soon  is  heard  the  rattling  of  the  keys,  and  the  opening  and  closing 
of  heavy  doors,  followed  by  the  tramp,  tramp,  of  many  feet.  Passing 
out  at  a  side  door  with  the  officer,  you  may  watch  the  men  passing 
down  to  their  breakfast  in  the  dining-room,  -which  is  on  the  ground 
floor  of  the  chapel,  perhaps  one  hundred  feet  from  the  prison  build- 
ing. 

Each  guard  marches  with  his  company  of  men,  from  twenty  to 
fifty  in  number.  They  march  in  single  file,  each  man  with  his  right 
hand  resting  upon  the  right  shoulder  of  the  man  in  front  of  him. 

The  officers  wear  dark  blue  uniforms,  while  the  convicts  are 
dressed  in  suits  made  of  heavy  woolen  goods,  generally  striped,  the 
stripes  being  black  and  white,  a  little  over  an  inch  wide,  even  the 
caps  being  striped,  and  of  the  same  material  as  the  suits. 

You  follow  the  officer  across  the  yard,  and  notice  the  large  green- 
house with  its  beautiful  plants,  flowers  and  shrubs.  But,  looking 
buck,  you  see  the  great  high  wall  of  the  prison,  and  remember  that 
the  little  spot  in  the  prison  yard  and  the  sky  overhead  is  all  the 


6o 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 


glimpse  of  the  world  that  these  poor  men  get,  and,  no  doubt,  is  all 
that  some  of  them  ever  will  get,  for  some  of  them  are  shut  in  there 
for  life. 

THE    CHAPEL     SERVICE. 

Yoa  follow  the  officer  up  the  steps  of  stone  into  the  entrance 
hall,  and  watch  the  men  pass  out  of  the  dining-room  up  the  stairway 
into  the  chapel;  then  you  follow  and  are  led  to  a  seat  near  the 


PRISON    CHAPEL    AND    DINING    ROOM. 

pulpit,  facing  the  assemblage.  Your  eyes  wander  quickly  over  that 
strange  lot  of  from  two  hundred  to  five  hundred  men,  and,  in  some 
prisons,  over  a  thousand  constitute  the  audience.  When  all  are  seated, 
the  guards  seat  themselves  on  high  stools  placed  along  the  sides  of 
the  room,  facing  the  rear  door,  while  the  prisoners  face  the  pulpit 
at  the  farther  end  of  the  room. 

Then  the  prison  choir  sings  and  the  organ  peals  forth  its  beau- 
tiful strains,  the  prisoners  joining  in  the  singing.  You  cannot  keep 
back  the  tears  as  you  look  into  their  faces  and  think  that  only  for 
sin  they  might  be  free.  Verily,  "the  way  of  the  transgressor  is 
hard."  Prayer  is  offered,  and  the  chaplain,  and  those  who  have 
permission,  talk  from  the  written  word  of  eternal  life.  Invariably 
your  eyes  sweep  over  that  strange  audience,  and  here  and  there  you 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  6 1 

gee  a  man,  or  perhaps  a  young  boy,  in  tears,  and  you  know  the  tender 
chord  in  their  hearts  has  been  touched.  God  grant  it  may  be  so! 
Several  testify  to  hope  in  Christ. 

Services  over,  the  prisoners  are  marched  to  their  cells  and  locked 
in.  They  must  all  attend  the  morning  service,  but  are  not  compelled 
to  attend  the  Sunday  school  in  the  afternoon.  Few  prisons  conduct 
Sunday  schools.  In  the  afterijoon,  in  company  with  the  chaplain  and 
some  of  the  guards,  you  may  visit  the  cell  rooms,  and  are  allowed  to 
distribute  papers  and  tracts,  and  speak  personally  with  each  prisoner. 

THE  CELL  ROOM  is  a  long  room  with  a  stone  floor  and  whitewashed 
walls,  the  cells  running  through  the  middle  of  its  entire  length.  The 
cells  are  narrow,  little  rooms,  perhaps  four  feet  wide  and  six  or  seven 
feet  long.  They  vary  somewhat  in  size.  They  have  doors  of  strong 
bars  of  iron,  and  no  windows.  All  the  air  received  must  enter 
through  this  grated  door  in  front.  The  back  of  each  cell  joins  with 
the  back  of  the  row  of  cells  on  the  other  side,  thus  forming  a  double 
row  facing  in  opposite  directions. 

Rows  of  cells  are  built  in  tiers,  one  row  above  another,  with  a  nar- 
row platform  running  along  in  front,  with  an  iron  railing. 

Each  man's  name,  and  the  number  of  his  cell,  is  placed  over  his 
door.  A  wide  corridor  runs  all  around  the  main  room,  which  admits 
the  circulation  of  air  from  the  large  grated  windows.  Sabbath  is 
rather  a  hard  day  for  the  men,  for  they  had  rather  be  at  work  than 
locked  in  lonely  cells,  with  only  their  own  thoughts  and  troubled 
consciences  for  company. 

Many  of  the  men  who  are  there  for  long  terms  have  their  cells 
fixed  very  nicely,  and  one  can  usually  tell  those  whose  hearts  cling  to 
home  or  friends.  But  there  are  some  who  seem  to  care  for  nothing. 
One  boy  had  his  cell  ornamented  with  festoons  of  newspapers  folded 
and  torn  into  patterns  representing  lace  curtains.  Another,  a  life 
convict,  had  his  cell  festooned  with  colored  tissue  paper.  This  man 
was  a  trusty,  who  had  the  care  of  the  flowers  and  plants.  In  some 
prisons  the  cells  are  not  provided  with  Bibles,  and  some  prisons  have 
no  chaplains. 

Some  of  the  men  are  very  expert  at  making  beautiful  things,  such 
as  pin  cushions,  picture  frames,  hair-braided  watch  guards,  pen- 
holders, workboxes,  toy  chairs  and  many  other  things.  One  man  I 


CORRIDOR    IN    CELL    HOUSE. 


OR   A    LABOR  OF   LOVE  63 

saw  was  making  designs  for  embossed  rocking-chair  backs;  another 
had  his  tools  for  repairing  watches. 

THE   WORKSHOPS. 

On  Monday  morning  we  may  visit  the  workshops  and  see  the  men 
at  work.  Here  we  see  all  kinds  of  work;  farm  implements,  such  as 
hoes,  rakes,  pitchforks  and  many  other  things,  probably  all  made  of 
iron.  These  tools  pass  through  many  hands  before  they  are  complete. 
Each  process  is  done  by  a  separate  set  of  men.  For  instance,  the 
hoes  are  made  by  some  and  sharpened  by  others.  It  takes  only  a 
few  seconds  to  sharpen  a  tool.  As  soon  as  this  is  done  it  is  passed 
on  to  others  who  polish  it,  and  the  handle  is  inserted  and  painted. 

Some  rooms  are  so  warm  from  the  many  furnaces,  and  the  red-hot 
_yons  which  are  being  beaten  into  shape,  that  a  person  can  scarcely 
.stay  long  enough  to  see  the  work  done,  and  ..is  glad  to  move 
on  to  cooler  departments.  The  men  seem  to  look  well,  but  you 
cannot  help  wondering  how  they  ever  work  and  endure  the  terrible 
heat.  They  are  not  allowed  to  talk  to  each  other,  and  are  contin- 
ually under  the  guard 's  eye.  Here  and  there  one  looks  up  with  a  nod 
and  a  smile. 

Each  man  in  the  shops  is  given  a  certain  amount  of  work  to  do, 
and  if  he  does  any  more  than  his  allotted  task,  he  is  paid  for  it. 
The  amount  is  kept  for  him.  But  very  few  except  long-timers  and 
experts  can  gain  any  time  to  do  extra  work. 

After    going    through    all    the    shops    we    pass    on    to 

THE    HOSPITAL, 

which  is  in  the  rear  of  the  chapel,  and  in  the  same  building.  Herje 
are  sights  that  touch  hearts.  Some  are  dying  with  consumption,  and 
seme  with  broken  hearts.  One  poor  boy's  sunken  cheeks  and  thin, 
wasted  hands  especially  touched  me.  Taking  him  by  the  hand,  I 
began  to  talk  to  him.  He  said:  "No  one  cares  for  me."  "Yes, 
God  cares  for  you  and  He  loves  you."  "Why  does  He  let  me  stay 
hero  and  die  if  He  loves  me?"  "Have  you  a  mother?"  "Yes,  I 
have  a  good  Christian  mother,  but  she  doesn't  know  I  am  here." 
"May  I  write  and  tell  her  you  are  sick?  I  am  sure  she  wants  to 
know  about  you?"  "Oh,  no;  I  had  rather  die  all  alone  than  to 
have  mother  know  I  am  here. ' ' 

So  it  js  all  through  these  places.  For,  though  I  have  briefly 
described  one  prison,  they  are  all  in  a  great  measure  alike,  yet  vary 


64  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

in  different  states  to  some  extent.  All  are  not  so  clean  and  neat  as 
this  one  spoken  of,  and  though  a  prison  might  be  lined  with  costly 
gems,  it  is  still  a  prison,  and  without  Jesus  in  the  heart  it  is  only  a 
living  tomb  to  those  confined  therein.  Let  none  think  that  it  is  a 
pleasant  place  to  be.  One  man  may  want  to  be  a  Christian,  or  at 
least  a  moral  man  and  a  man  of  cultured  tastes,  and  such  men  find 
it  doubly  hard  when  they  must  work  side  by  side  with  the  most 
degraded  criminals.  One  may  leave  the  prison  worse  than  when  he 
went  in. 

In  these  places  children  hide  their  ruined  lives  and  breaking  hearts 
from  their  dearest  earthly  friends.  No  mother  to  smooth  the  dying 
one 's  pilow,  though  small  it  may  be !  No  sister  or  brother  to  wipe 
away  the  bitter  tears  that  will  fall;  no  father  to  say  good-bye.  O 
mothers,  let  the  memory  of  your  boy's  innocent  childhood  fan  all 
your  tenderness  and  love  into  a  flame  that  would  leap  over  the 
highest  breastwork  Satan  could  erect  and  take  your  boy  or  girl  back 
to  your  heart.  If  you  have  been  a  true  Christian  and  have  done  your 
duty  faithfully,  trust  still  in  God.  What  we  need  is  faithful  teach- 
ing among  the  unsaved,  to  warn  them  against  their  danger,  before 
they  get  into  such  awful  places. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Letters    of   Introduction   and    Kind    Words   from   Gov- 
ernors, Prison    Officials,  Etc. 

From  the  great  number  of  letters  .which  I  have  received, 
of  the  character  indicated  by  the  title  of  this  chapter,  I  give 
a  few  which  may  be  of  interest  to  the  reader.  These  will 
suffice  to  show  the  general  interest  of  those  in  positions  of 
honor  and  trust  and  their  willingness  to  share  a  part  in  the 
work  I  have  tried  to  perform  for  humanity,  by  making  it 
possible  for  me  to  prosecute  and  carry  it  on.  Many  letters 
of  like  topic  have  been  lost  or  destroyed,  and,  space  being 
limited,  I  hope  those  who  have  done  a  like  part  may  not 
feel  slighted.  The  true  records  are  kept  by  the  recording 
angel,  and  every  one  shall  receive  a  just  reward.  "Inas- 
much as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these,  my 
brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me." 

Such  letters  received  in  the  Southern  states  will  be  found 
in  the  chapters  on  work  in  Stockades  and  Prison  Camps. 
Also  some  relating  to  Street  and  Rescue  work  in  the  chap- 
ters on  these  respective  topics.  I  should  like  very  much  to 
give  some  personal  letters  from  railway  officials,  express- 
ing their  appreciation  and  interest  in  the  work,  but  I  have 
refrained  lest  by  such  some  might  be  caused  some  annoy- 
ance. To  them  much  gratitude  and  credit  is  due,  from  all 
who  have  received  encouragement  or  spiritual  benefit 
through  my  feeble  efforts  made  in  the  name  of  Jesus. 


68'  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

FKOM  GOVERNORS. 

Executive  Department, 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Dec.  4,  1891. 
Hon.  J.  B.  Patten,  Warden, 

Jeffersonville,  Ind. 
Dear  Sir: 

This  will  be  presented  to  you  by  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ryder  Wheaton,  an 
evangelist  whose  work  is  especially  among  prisoners.     I  hope  it  will 
suit  your  pleasure  and  convenience  to  extend  to  her  the  privilege  of 
addressing  the  prisoners  of  your  institution. 
Yours  truly, 

I.  J.  CHASE,  Governor.  . . 


Executive  Department, 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Aug.  3,  1893. 
Capt.  Jas.  B.  Patten, 

Warden  Prison  South, 

Jeffersonville.  Ind. 
Dear  Sir: 

This  will  be  presented  to  you  by  Mrs.  E.  E.  Wheaton,  a  prison 
evangelist  of  long  experience  and  considerable  reputation.  She 
comes  with  the  highest  recommendations  of  her  work  from  prisons 
heretofore  visited.  She  desires  to  conduct  services  in  your  chapel, 
and  I  trust  you  will  afford  her  every  reasonable  facility  for  so  doing. 
Very  respectfully, 

CLAUDE  MATTHEWS. 


Governor's  Office. 

Topeka,  Aug.  5,  1893. 
Hon.  S.  W.  Chase,  • 

Lansing,  Kans. 
Dear  Sir: 

This  will  introduce  to  you  Elizabeth  Ryder  Wheaton,  a  prison  evan- 
gelist, who  comes  to  us  very  highly  recommended. 

She  is  desirous  of  holding  service,  or  taking  part,  at  least,  in  th« 
prison. 

Any  favors  shown  her  will  be  appreciated  by 

FRED  J.  CLOSE,  Private  Sec '7. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  69 

Dear  Chase: 

I  have  just  come  in,  and  take  pleasure  in  endorsing  the  above  let- 
ter. I  bespeak  for  this  lady  a  full  opportunity  to  address  the  pris- 
oners, as  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  service  will  be  productive  of 
good.  Yours, 

L.  D.   LEWELLING,  Governor. 


Executive  Office. 
State  of  Idaho. 

Boise  City,  Dec.  19,  1895. 
To  Whom  It  May  Concern : 

This  will  introduce  Enlizabeth  Ryder  Wheaton,  a  lady  who  is 
devoted  to  prison  work.  Any  favors  shown  her  will  be  gratefully 
appreciated.  Respectfully, 

W.  J.   McCONNELL,  Governor. 


Executive  Chamber. 

Lincoln,  Nebraska,  Oct.  10,  1896. 
Warden  Leidigh: 

My  Dear  L.:— 

This  will  introduce  to  you  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ryder  Wheaton,  who 
is  interested  in  prison  reform  work  and  in  visiting  prisons  for  the 
purpose  of  holding  suitable  services  on  the  Sabbath  day.  Kindly 
extend  such  courtesies  as  you  can,  and  make  the  necessary  announce- 
ments so  that  she  can  conduct  services  in  the  chapel,  and  much  oblige, 
Very  truly  yours, 

SILAS  A.  HOLCOMB,  Governor. 


Executive  Chamber. 

Carson  City,  Nevada,  Dec.  13,  1902. 
Mrs.  Henderson: 

Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton,  the  bearer  of  this,  desires  to  do  some  charita- 
ble work  at  the  prison  and  she  desires  to  have  services  there  to- 
morrow, as  Mr.  Henderson  is  not  there.     She  is  coming  down  with 
Mr.  Harris  and  will  explain  her  mission  to  you. 
Yours  truly, 

R>   SADLER,   Governor. 


70  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

PKISON  OFFICIALS. 

Sheriff's  Office. 
Suffolk  County. 

Boston,  Oct.  24,  1885. 
Mr.  Bradley: 

Let  the  bearer  visit  the  jail  and  see  any  person  she  desires  to. 

J.  B.  O  'BRIEN,  Sheriff. 


North  Carolina  State  Penitentiary. 

Raleigh,  N.  C.,  Nov.  14,  1885. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton. 

My  Dear  Friend:  Your  postal  just  to  hand,  and  in  reply  I  am 
glad  to  say  my  daughter  is  much  better  than  when  you  were  in 
Ealeigh,  but  she  is  still  very  far  from  being  well.  The  general 
health  of  the  prisoners  is  very  good  at  this  time.  I  shall  be  very 
glad  to  have  you  at  our  prison  as  you  pass  on  your  way  south.  We 
have  all  of  the  convicts  in  the  prison  every  Sabbath,  and  I  shall  be 
very  much  pleased  for  you  to  have  service  for  us.  We  can  arrange 
for  the  service  on  any  Sabbath  morning  or  evening,  as  may  be  most 
desirable  or  convenient  to  you. 

I  regret  that  I  did  not  meet  you  when  you  were  here  last.     May 
the  good  Lord  bless  you  very  abundantly  in  your  Christian  work. 
Your  Friend, 

W.  J.  HICKS,  Architect  and  Warden. 


Warden's   Office, 
Nebraska  State  Penitentiary. 

Nobesville,  Nebr.,  April  11,  1886. 
R.  J.  McClaughry, 

Warden  Penitentiary, 

Joliet,  111. 
Dear  Sir: 

This  will  introduce  to  your  favorable  notice  Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton, 
Prison  Evangelist.  Mrs.  Wheaton  is  highly  recommended  by  some  of 
the  most  prominent  persons,  and  any  favors  that  you  can  show  her 
will  be  in  a  good  cause. 

Very  respectfully, 

C.  F.  NODES,  Warden. 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  71 

San  Francisco,  Aug.    18,   1888. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Madam:  I  have  just  received  yours  of  the  17th  inst.,  and 
in  reply  will  say  that  you  have  always  been  welcome  to  visit  the 
jail  and  enjoy  every  privilege  granted  to  others  of  your  sex. 

Mr.  G. 's  mother  has  not  been  allowed  to  enter  his  cell  for  some 
time  past.  The  utmost  freedom  consistent  with  our  rules  of  order 
is  given  to  all  those  employed  in  the  good  work  in  which  you  are 
so  earnestly  engaged.  Should  you  find  it  convenient  to  visit  the  insti- 
tution again  prior  to  leaving  our  State,  we  will  be  pleased  to  admit 
you,  and  should  you  prevail  on  the  sheriff  to  allow  the  special  favor 
you  seek,  we  will  gladly  comply  with  the  order. 
Respectfully  yours, 

JOHN  ROGERS,  Chief  Jailer. 


Dakota  Penitentiary  North. 

Bismarck,  Dak.,  Oct.  27,  1888. 
Hon.  D.  S.  Glidden, 

Warden  Penitentiary, 

Sioux  Falls,  Dak. 
Dear  Sir: 

This  will  introduce  to  you  Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton  and  Miss 

Mary  M ,  Prison  Evangelists. 

They  paid  us  a  visit  several  days  ago.  While  they  came  with- 
out introduction,  I  welcomed  them  and  gave  them  opportunity  to 
examine  the  prison;  also  called  officers  and  prisoners  together  in 
the  evening  and  held  services.  We  were  well  repaid  for  our  time  and 
trouble.  They  left  a  lasting  and  good  impression.  I  think  that 
you  will  like  their  singing  and  prison  talk.  I  bespeak  for  them  a 
cordial  greeting.  Fraternally  yours, 

DAN  WILLIAMS,  Warden. 


Warden's  Office, 
Penitentiary  at  Anamosa. 

Anamosa,  Iowa,  Dec.  2,   1888. 

This  is  to  certify  that  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton  this  day  held  religious 
services  in  the  prison  chapel  at  this  prison,  which  were  very  interest- 
ing and  instructive,  and  were  highly  appreciated  by  both  convicts 


72  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

and  officials.     I  am  convinced  {hat  much  good  will  result  from  the 
meeting.    Mrs.  Wheaton  is  very  earnest  in  her  remarks,  and  her  sing- 
ing is  charming.     I  can  heartily  commend  her  to  all  prison  officials 
whom  she  may  choose  to  visit. 
Very  truly, 

MARQUIS  BARR,  Warden. 


Ohio  Penitentiary,  Warden's  Office. 

Columbus,   Ohio,  Sept.   10,   1889. 
To  Prison  Officers: 

This  will  introduce   Mrs.  Wheaton,   who   has   been  at   our  prison 
and   worked    among    the   boys.      There   is   none   who    will   command 
more  respect  and  no  more  earnest  worker  than  Mrs.  Wheaton.     She 
will  do  good  Christian  work  wherever  she  goes. 
Respectfully, 

W.   B.   PENNINGTON, 
Deputy   Warden,   Ohio   Penitentiary. 


Huntsville,  Tex.,  Sept.  20,   1904. 
Mother  Wheaton, 

Tabor  Iowa. 

My  Dear  Madam:     Your  favor  of  the  4th   instant  came  duly  to 
hand,  and  we  certainly  appreciate  your  kind  remembrance. 

I  made  the  men  a  talk  last  Sunday  in  the  Chapel  and  told  them 
of  your  kindly  words  sent  them  by  you   through  me,   and   I  know 
they  all  appreciated  it.     May  God  bless  you  in  your  good  work,  and 
grant  that  your  days  may  be  long;  that  you  may  be  able  to  turn 
many  poor,  wayward  men  and  women  from  their  evil  ways. 
With  my  very  kindest   regards,   I  beg  to  remain,   madam, 
Yours    most   sincerely, 

T.  H.  BROWN,  Asst.  Superintendent. 
Diet.  T.  H.  B. 


Sioux  Falls,  South   Dakota,  Aug.  31,   1891. 
To   My  Brethren— Wardens : 

Gentlemen:      Having    observed    the   work    of    Mrs.    Elizabeth    R. 
Wheaton  as  a  prison  evangelist,  I  most  cheerfully  recommend  her 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  73 

to  your  kind  consideration  and  co-operation.    Her  presence  is  a  bene- 
diction, uud  her  work  is  in  no  sense  subversive  of  good  discipline, 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  is  most  healthful  and  helpful. 
Fraternally  yours, 

THEO.  D.  KANOUSE, 
Warden   of  South  Dakota   Penitentiary. 


Warden's  Office. 
The  Anamosa  Penitentiary. 

Anamosa,  Iowa,  Oct.  8,  1894. 
To  all  who  entertain  an  interest  in  our  common  humanity: 

We  deem  it  only  just  and  proper  to  express  our  endorsement  of 
the  labors  and  influence  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Eider  Wheaton  among 
the  inmates  of  prisons. 

Her  visits  to  this  prison  have  invariably  been  attended  with  good 
results,  and  she  leaves  within  these  walls  a  fragrant  and  wholesome 
influence.  Most  respectfully, 

P.   W.    MADDEN,   Warden. 
J.  M.  CROCKER,  Chaplain. 


Southern    Illinois   Penitentiary. 

Chester,  111.,  Menard  P.  O.,  Oct.  22,  1893. 
Dr.  V.  S.  Benson,  Asylum  for  Criminal  Insane, 
My  Dear  Doctor: 

This  will  introduce  Mrs.  E.  K.  Wheaton,  a  prison  evangelist  who 
wishes  to  hold  open  air  services  at  your  place.  I  am  deeply  im- 
pressed with  her  earnestness  and  eloquence,  and  feel  that  she  has 
done  us  good  down  here.  Yours  truly, 

J.  D.  BAKER,  Warden. 


Superintendent 's  Office. 
Virginia   Penitentiary. 

Richmond    Va.,  June  8,   1893. 
To  Whom  It  May  Concern: 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton,  evangelist,  whose  mission  is  among 
prisoners,  has  visited  and  held  meetings  at  this  institution  which 
have  made  a  decided  impression  upon  the  convicts,  and  I  heartily 


74  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

recommend    her    to    the    favor    of    prison    officials    and    other    good 
people.  Very  truly  yours, 

B.   W.  LYNN,   Supt. 


Colorado  State  Penitentiary. 

Canon  City,  Colo.,  April  11,  1904. 
To  Whom  It  May  Concern: 

I  wish  to  say  that  Mother  Wheaton,  who  has  from  time  to  time 
visited  the  Colorado  State  Penitentiary,  has  been  the  means,  I 
believe,  of  accomplishing  much  good  with  the  inmates  of  this  insti- 
tution. Her  earnest  efforts  and  kind,  motherly  advice  have  instilled 
in  the  hearts  of  the  prisoners  an  apparent  desire  to  be  better  men. 
I  certainly  most  earnestly  commend  her  to  the  kindly  care  of  those 
whom  she  may  meet.  JOHN  CLEGHORN, 

Warden  Colorado  State   Penitentiary. 


South  Dakota  Penitentiary. 

Sioux  Falls,  S.  D.,  March  12,  1904. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton, 

612  E  St.,  Elkhart,  Ind. 
Dear  Madam: 

1  take  this  opportunity  of  thanking  you  for  the  visit  made  to 
this  institution  some  time  ago.  Your  work  among  the  prisoners  has 
had  good  effect  in  more  ways  than  one.  A  number  of  the  inmates 
have  told  me  that  your  encouraging  and  Christian  talk  to  them  has 
helped  them  and  tltat  they  are  trying  to  live  Christian  lives  and 
that  by  the  help  of  God  they  expect  tils  to  be  their  last  term  in 
prison. 

Hoping  that  you  may  be  able  to  visit  this  institution  again,  I  am, 
Yours  truly, 

O.  S.  SWENSON,  Warden. 


South    Dakota    Penitentiary. 

Sioux  Falls,  S.  D.,  June  5,   1905. 
To  Whom  It  May  Concern: 

This  is  to  certify  that  Mother  Wheaton,  the  bearer  of  this  letter, 
has  visited  the  South  Dakota  Penitentiary  in  the  capacity  of  a  mis- 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  75 

sionary.     I  am  glad  of  the   opportunity  to  say  that  she  is   doing 
much  good  to  those  unfortunate  enough  to  be  placed  in  an  institution 
of  this  kind  and  I  heartily  commend  her  work. 
Very  respectfully, 

H.  T.  PARMLEY,   Warden. 


Nebraska  State  Penitentiary. 

Lancaster,   Neb.,   May  22,  1905. 

Mother  Wheaton 's  visits  to  this  institution  always  seem  to  cheer 
up  the  inmates  and  make  most  of  them  look  forward  to  better 
things.  They  feel  that  she  has  a  mother's  heart  for  all. 

A.  D.   BEEMER,  Warden. 


Office  of  the  Commissioners  of  the 
District  of  Columbia. 

Washington,  Aug.  19,   1893. 
Mr.  W.  H.  Stoutenburgh, 

Intendant  Washington  Asylum. 
Dear  Sir: 

The  commissioners  direct  me  to  ask  that  you  will  give  the  bearer, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton,  a  hearing,  and  such  favorable  action 
as  you  properly  may  with  respect  to  the  object  of  her  visit,  which 
is  to  arrange  for  the  holding  of  religious  exercises  at  the  asylum. 

Very  truly, 

W.  TINDALL,  Secretary. 

PERSONAL  LETTERS. 

Kansas  State  Penitentiary. 

Lansing,  Kan.,  Oct.  17,   1894. 
Mrs.  E.   R.  Wheaton. 
Dear  Sister: 

1  am  in  receipt  of  your  card  and  am  glad  to  hear  of  your  good 
success.  I  enclose  you  a  money  order  for  eight  dollars  and  seventy- 
five  cents,  of  which  fifty  cents  comes  from  the  deputy  warden,  and 
the  balance  from  prisoners.  You  will  remember  that  I  gave  you  one 
dollar  and  twenty-five  cents,  making  a  total  of  ten  dollars. 

Excuse  me  for  being  so  particular,   but  money  drawn  from   the 


76  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

prisoners  goes  on  record,  so  would  like  your  receipt  to  show  for  it. 
Wife  and  children  are  well. 

Fraternally, 

F.  A.  BRIGGS,   Chaplain. 


Kentucky   Branch   Penitentiary. 

Eddyville,   Ky.,    Nov.    13,    1897. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Eider  Wheaton. 
Dear  Sister: 

I  suppose  you  remember  your  visit  to  our  prison;  the  boys  often 
speak  of  you.  We  would  be  glad  to  have  you  visit  us  again  when- 
ever it  would  be  convenient.  I  will  soon  have  to  submit  my  annual 
report  and  I  write  you  that  I  may  get  a  statement  from  you  that  I 
may  embody  in  the  report.  I  herewith  enclose  statement;  if  you  will 
sign  and  return  to  me  I  will  be  very  thankful.  I  have  forgotten 
the  lady's  name  who  was  with  you.  If  you  could  get  a  like  state- 
ment from  her  for  me  I  would  be  glad  to  embody  it  also.  In  my 
report  I  will  speak  of  your  visit  in  a  way  that  will  introduce  you 
into  other  parts  of  the  United  States. 
Hoping  to  hear  from  you  soon,  I  am, 

Yours  most  respectfully, 

D.  F.  KERR,  Chaplain. 


Missouri   State    Penitentiary. 
Office  of  Warden, 

Jefferson  City,  Nov.  22,  1897. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

Your  card  duly  received  and  we  were  all  glad  to  hear  from  you, 
D.  especially.  Enclosed  you  will  find  a  letter  from  her  which  she  is 

very  anxious  for  you  to  answer.  Mrs.  Pike  and  I  both  ordered 
books  from  Mr.  McKnight  at  Columbus  and  are  perfectly  delighted 
with  them.  Mrs.  Spahr  has  ordered  one  too.  We  are  all  about  as 
usual,  some  three  or  four  sick.  We  have  fifty-two  women  at  pres- 
ent. Hope  you  are  well  and  prospering  in  the  Lord's  work.  Will 
be  pleased  to  hear  from  you  often.  With  much  love, 
I  am  sincerely  yours, 

BELLE  MAGBE, 
Matron  State  Petfitenftary. 


OR   A    LABOR  OF   LOVE  77 

Pittsburg,  Kan.,  April  18,  1898. 
My  Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

Your  kind  letter  just  received.  God  bless  you  for  your  kind, 
sympathetic  heart.  I  have  often  thought  of  and  prayed  for  you.  I 
still  feel  that  God  will  open  the  way  for  me  to  re-enter  the  prison 
work.  I  am  trusting  Him.  He  is  my  all  and  in  all. 

1  hear  occasionally  from  the  boys  at  Fort  Madison.  God  has  used 
you  marvelously.  May  you  be  spared  long  to  tell  to  those  around 
what  a  dear  Saviour  you  have  found. 

Your  son  in  the  gospel, 

C.  S.  LASLETT, 

Former  Chaplain  Fort  Madison,  Iowa. 
Eph.  3:18-21. 


Anamosa    Penitentiary. 

Anamosa,   Iowa,   Oct.   5,   1899. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

At  last  we  have  your  handkerchiefs  finished,  and  can  send  to  you. 
The  girls  did  not  get  those  tiny  slippers  finished  in  time  to  have 
them  at  the  turnkey's  office  the  evening  before  you  went  away,  so 
will  enclose  them  now.  They  are  very  small,  but  we  know  you  will 
appreciate  the  motive  rather  than  the  result. 

They  are  all  doing  nicely  and  I  feel  quite  encouraged  with  the 
present  outlook. 

I  trust  that  you  are  better  and  that  your  general  health  may 
remain  good  for  years  of  usefulness  yet  in  life. 

With  best  wishes  from  myself  and  my  father,  the  Deputy  Warden, 
I   am   sincerely   yours, 

MRS.   ANGIE  M.   WATERMAN,   Matron. 


Kansas  State  Penitentiary. 

Lansing,  Kan.,  Oct.  5,  1899. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

Your  card  of  yesterday  reached  me  today,  but  too  late  to  attend 
your  service  at  the  Home,  which  I  would  have  been  pleased  to  do. 
Accompanied  by  our  daughter  we  went  to  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  Mon- 
day evening  for  a  short  visit  and  returned  home  yesterday  noon. 
I  examined  eight  new  prisoners  just  before  starting  and  upon  my 


78  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

return    found    sixteen    more.      Then    two    more    today.      Twenty-six 
in  all  this  week!     So  I  have  been  very  busy. 

Your  handkerchief  was  found  in  Chapel  and  my  sexton  and 
night  watch  want  you  to  know  that  you  have  found  '  *  two  honest 
boys  in  the  pen."  I  send  it  enclosed. 

Are  you  going  to  remain  here  over  another  Sunday,  and  if  so, 
will  you  be  out  again  or  do  you  go  to  the  Military  Prison? 

The  little  book  to  Baby  Esther,  the  poem  and  a  tract,  came  this 
evening,  for  which  please  accept  grateful  thanks.  May  the  blessed 
Lord  greatly  bless  you  in  your  noble  work.  May  He  comfort, 
strengthen  and  keep  you. 

Sincerely   yours    in  Jesus, 

R.  A.  HOFFMAN,  Chaplain. 


Iowa   Soldiers'    Home. 

Marshalltown,   Iowa,   July   18,   1901. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  E.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Sister.     Your  card  came,  after  a  little  delay,  duly  to  hand. 
We   regret   very   much   your   being   sick   and  especially  with   that 
dreaded  disease,  the  smallpox.     There  has  not  been  a  case  of  it  at 
the  Home  and  not  any  in  town  that  I  know  of. 

Our  family  is  well.  Matters  at  the  Home  in  usual  shape.  Thirty- 
four  of  the  boys  have  died  since  January  1,  and  so  we  are  being 
mustered  out,  because  of  service  no  longer  needed.  It  will  be  a 
wonderful  relief  to  us  all  to  be  invited  to  that  "house  not  made 
with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. ' ' 

Your  visit  here  was  well  received,  much  enjoyed  and  very  profit- 
able.   Your  coming  again  will  be  hailed  with  delight. 
Very   truly,   your   brother, 

JESSE  COLE,  Chaplain. 


Michigan  State  Prison. 

Jackson,   Mich.,  Sept.   9,    1903. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

The  work  still  progresses  nicely.     Many  of  the  men  speak  in  the 
highest  terms  of  the  services  you  held  here  and  wish  to  hear  you 
again  and  those  who  pray  often   remember  you  in  their  prayers. 
We  are  very  thankful  to  you  for  your  interest  in  the  inmates  of 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  79 

Jackson  Prison.  God  bless  you  in  your  mission  of  love.  We  send 
the  sincere  wish  and  offer  the  earnest  prayer  that  God  may  make 
your  book  a  strong  influence  in  the  upbuilding  of  Christian  life  and 
character.  Sincerely, 

FRANK   MCALPINE,   Chaplain, 


Rusk,  Tex.,  April  7,  1904. 
Mrs.   E.  R.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Sister:  Your  kind  postal  was  read  to  "The  Boys"  last 
Sunday  and  I  was  requested  to  answer  it.  They  enjoyed  your 
words  of  love  and  sympathy  very  much.  The  ' f  old  timers ' '  remem- 
ber you  well,  and  the  new  men  know  you  through  the  old  ones. 

John  B.  Reagan  is  Assistant  Superintendent,  J.  H.  Meeks,  War- 
den or,  as  he  is  called  here,  Underkeeper;  J.  H.  Walker,  Assistant 
Financial  Agent,  and  I  am  Chaplain. 

We  would  like  so  much  for  you  to  visit  us.     If  you  make  arrange- 
ments to  come  let  me  know  and  I  will  meet  you  at  the  depot. 
Yours  in  the  work, 

J.  L.  DAWSON. 


Accompanying  the  following  tribute  from  Bro.  Munro, 
chaplain  of  the  Mission  to  the  "Tombs"  Prison  in  New 
York  Gity,  we  give  cuts  of  the  old  "Tombs"  where  I  have 
held  services  a  number  of  times,  and  of  the  "New  Tombs" 
which  has  not  been  occupied  a  great  while.  Also  a  short 
extract  taken  irom  the  annual  report  of  the  chaplain. 

Gospel  Mission  to  the  Tombs. 
Rev.  J.  J.  Munro,  Chaplain. 

New  York  City,  June  24,  1904. 
Dear  Sister  Wheaton, 

Prison   Evangelist, 

Chicago,  111. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  that  you  are  writing  a  book  on  prison  labors. 
You  certainly  have  had  much  experience  in  that  line.  I  trust  your 
book  will  have  a  wide  circulation  in  which  the  marvels  of  God's  free 
grace  to  men  and  women  behind  the  bars  will  be  fully  seen. 

I  take  much  pleasure  in  commending  your  prison  labors  for  the 


THE  OLD  TOMBS 


I  Si   »iu    I 


THE  NEW  TOMBS 


OR   A    LABOR  OF   LOVE  8l 

Master.  For  when  you  came  to  the  Tombs  it  gave  me  great  joy  to 
hear  you  speak  to  the  prisoners.  And  your  earnest  words  for  lost 
souls  will  not  be  soon  forgotten.  Success  to  you  and  may  God's 
richest  blessiag  be  with  you. 

In  the  Master's  name, 

JOHN  J.  MUNRO. 


EXTKACT. 

* '  Crime  among  boys  and  young  men  has  increased  greatly  during 
the  last  few  years.  I  cannot  account  for  this  except  on  the  ground 
of  a  noticeable  increase  in  the  social  high  pressure. 

"The  temptations  today  are  greater  than  ever  and  swamp  the 
young  men  by  the  hundreds  before  they  reach  their  majority.  I 
meet  these  boys  in  prison — white  and  colored — and  talk  to  them.  I 
find  out  their  needs  and  try  to  help  them. 

'  *  Nowhere  in  the  wide  world  can  the  power  of  sin  be  more  clearly 
seen  than  in  the  Tombs  Prison.  It  is  a  wreckage  pool  where  hulks 
and  derelicts  that  have  been  abandoned  in  the  ocean  of  life  come 
to  a  standstill.  What  an  army  of  fallen  humanity!  They  can  go 
no  further.  When  they  realize  their  condition  they  weep;  groan  and 
bitterly  lament  over  their  misspent  lives.  Can  these  men  be  trans- 
formed by  th,e  power  of  the  Gospel?  These  moral  and  physical 
wrecks,  with  bleared  eyes,  sunken  and  emaciated  cheeks  and  many 
other  marks  of  sin.  What  a  besotted  multitude!  Yet  the  Gospel 
of  Jesus  can  reach  them.  'He  can  save  to  the  uttermost  all  that 
come  unto  God  through  Him.'  " 


Nebraska  State  Penitentiary. 
A.  D.  Beemer,  Warden. 

Lancaster,  Neb.,  May  22,  1905. 
To  Whom  It  May  Concern: 

I  have  lately  become  acquainted  with  Mrs.'  Elizabeth  Wheaton, 
familiarly  known  as  "Mother  Wheaton,"  the  prison  evangelist,  and 
I  take  pleasure  in  recommending  her  and  endorsing  her  work  among 
those  who  are  detained  in  prisons  and  jails. 

Her  manifest  Christian  spirit,  sympathy  with  the  unfortunate  and 
condemned  ones,  sincere  humility,  all  entitle  her  to  the  esteem  and 


82  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

confidence  of  all,  and  I  believe  her  work  productive  of  much  good. 

Signed,  P.  C.  JOHNSON, 

Chaplain  of  Nebraska  Penitentiary, 

Lancaster.   Neb. 


Huntsville,  Tex.,  Aug.  8,  1904. 
To  Whom  It  May  Concern: 

This  is  to  certify  that  Sister  Elizabeth  E.  Wheaton,  prison  evan- 
gelist, has  visited  our  prison  and  held  a  profitable  service.  She 
is  Q  consecrated  woman  and  has  her  heart  in  the  work.  Would  to 
God  that  we  had  more  such  women.  May  the  Lord  raise  them  up 
and  help  these  poor  unfortunate  men  who  are  confined  within  prison 
walls.  All  the  prisoners  who  know  her  love  her  and  call  her  mother. 
May  the  Lord  in  his  mercy  preserve  her  and  give  her  many  souls  for 
her  labor. 

W.  T.  MCDONALD, 
Chaplain  Penitentiary. 


Charlestown,  Mass.,  Oct.  30,  1885. 
Dear  Mrs.  Wheaton: 

I  am  sorry  I  had  no  opportunity  to  see  you  before  you  left.  I 
trust  we  may  see  you  on  your  way  to  the  south.  Mrs.  Chapman 
informed  me  last  evening  of  your  whereabouts  and  the  Warden 
wished  me  to  convey  his  regards  to  you  and  say  that  he  should  like 
to  see  you  here  again,  if  convenient  or  consistent  with  your  plans, 
on  Sunday  next  (Nov.  1). 

Accompanying  this  please  find  some  notes  from  different  prison- 
ers. The  Warden  would  be  glad  to  have  you  here  some  Saturday 
P.  M.  in  order  that  you  should  be  in  the  yard,  at  liberty  with  all 
the  men,  that  you  might  speak  with  them  at  your  freedom  or 
pleasure  personally.  I  trust  that  the  divine  light  is  flooding  your 
spirit  and  I  pray  it  may  do  so  forever. 

I  hope  that  Christ  is  ever  a  satisfying  portion  to  you  and  that 
your  comforts  in  Him  are  numberless  and  rich. 

May  God  Almighty  fill  you  with  himself. 
Kespectfully, 

J.  W.  F.  BARNES, 
Chaplain   Mass.   State   Prison. 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  83 

P.  S.     Also  find  herewith  a  paper  drawn  up  by  one  prisoner  and 
signed  by  thirty-three  others.  J.  W.  F.  B. 


Charlestown,  Mass.,  June  4,  1887. 
Dear  Sister  Wheaton: 

Things  here  seem  to  be  getting  on  to  the  praise  of  Jehovah.  I 
had  a  good,  long  letter  from  Sister  B.  this  morning.  It  is  most 
blessed  to  feel  that  Jesus  abides  in  the  ship  and  commands  the 
winds  and  sea  as  well.  Praise  his  glorious  name! 

What  a  blessing  it  is  to  be  on  the  altar  in  God 's  service,  ready 
to  go  or  stay;  ready  to  labor  or  to  rest;  to  bear  burdens  or  be  free. 
I  trust  that  the  fullest  rays  of  the  Sun  Divine  may  warm  your 
heart  and   make  your  life   fruitful. 
God  be  with  you  richly  in  all  things. 

With  best  of  wishes, 

J.  W.  F.  BARNES,  Chaplain. 


Massachusetts  State  Prison. 

_  Charlestown,  Feb.  13,  1896. 
Dear  Mrs.  Wheaton: 

Your  postal   to   the   Warden   concerning  was   put    into   my 

hands.  This  is  the  first  moment  T  have  had  to  devote  to  an  answer. 
He  is  in  the  city  working.  He  has  made  excellent  friends.  He 
stands  well  in  the  church  he  has  joined;  is  connected  with  a  very 
large  Bible  class  of  young  men  and  frequently  has  to  be  its  teacher. 
He  is  active  in  the  church,  but  closely  confined  to  his  work. 

W.e  are  in  fair  condition,  comparatively,  in  the  prison.  We  have 
tonight,  761  prisoners.  I  send  you  one  of  our  reports  with  this. 

A.  is  still  keeping  a  Kescue  Mission  and  doing  well. 

I  presume  you  are  still  after  the  welfare  of  the  prisoners.  I 
have  been  very  ill  since  I  saw  you,  but  am  able  to  be  at  my  work 
again.  Our  little  prayer  meeting  on  Saturday  P.  M.  still  goes  on 
doing  good.  The  Lord  is  with  us  in  the  enlightening  and  building 
up  of  souls. 

Such  work  as  you  used  to  do  has  been  left  out  of  the  prison  life 
and  no  one  is  allowed  now  to  go  into  the  chapel  on  Sundays.  Once 
each  month  1  take  in  some  people  to  help  us  sing  in  our  praise  ser- 


84  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

vice.     The  same  people  every  time,  however.    Pray  for  us. 
Sincerely  yours, 

J.  W.  F.  BARNES,  Chaplain. 


Massachusetts  State  Prison. 

CharlestowD,  June  14,  1899. 
Dear  Sister  Wheaton: 

Yours  came  on  Monday  last.  I  was  glad  to  hear  from  you,  and 
to  get  the  enclosures  in  your  letter.  They  are  good — very  good — 
for  my  work  and  my  own  life.  I  heartily  reciprocate  all  your  good 
wishes  for  me  and  pray  that  you  may  be  preserved  from  all  evil. 

We  have  had  some  blessed  conversions  here  and  one  or  two  of  our 
men  have  gone  to  their  reward  in  great  peace  and  joy. 

F.  is  doing  well  and  much  loved  in  his  work  for  Christ.  He  is 
at  same  address  I  sent  you  before. 

Truly   yours   in  the   work, 

J.  W.  F.  BARNES,  Chaplain. 


PERSONAL  WORK. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
Some  of  My  Prison  Boys. 

The  writer  of  the  following  letters  was  one  of  the  most 
remarkably  conscientious  persons  I  ever  knew.  As  a  pris- 
oner, he  was  very  highly  respected  by  the  officers.  His 
chaplain  has  ever  remained  his  sincere  friend  and  coun- 
selor. Years  have  passed  since  he  left  prison  life  and  he 
still  remains  an  earnest  Christian  and  an  honorable  member 
of  society.  No  one  but  his  pastor,  employer  and  former 
friends  know  his  past  history. 

He  was  converted  in  prison  during  services  I  held  in  1884 
or  1885.  He  presented  me  some  years  ago  with  a  book  of 
poems  of  his  own  writing.  Not  being  able  to  carry  them 
with  me,  I  have  lost  trace  of  them.  Otherwise  would  be 
glad  to  furnish  some  of  them  to  my  readers. 


To  Mrs.  Wheaton,  My  Dear  Mother  in  the  Lord: 

I  call  you  by  this  name  because  I  am  young  and  have  lost  my 
mother  in  the  flesh,  and  I  am  writing  this  letter  because,  as  you 
have  given  up  all  for  Jesus'  sake,  you  only  can  help  me  as  I  wish. 
You  can  pray  for  me  as  a  mother  prays  for  a  son.  I  am  twenty- 
four  years  old,  have  an  eighteen  years'  sentence,  have  served  four 
years  of  it  and  expect  to  serve  the  whole  of  it  for  I  have  no  influen- 
tial friends  to  help  me. 

I  had  not  been  here  a  year  until  I  realized  what  eighteen  years 
of  prison  life  meant — the  deprivation  of  all  earthly  pleasures,  and 
the  wasting  away  of  youthful  hopes  and  ambitions  in  vain  regret. 
Grief,  misery  and  despair  overwhelmed  me  every  night,  and  every 
night  I  wished  that  I  were  dead.  A  great  struggle  was  going  on  in 
my  soul.  A  struggle  for  either  life  or  death,  and,  thank  God,  life 
had  the  victory. 

1  am  now  a  Christian.    A  night  of  revelation  came  to  me  in  which 


88  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

God,  as  Judge,  and  Jesus,  as  Saviour,  revealed  to  me — the  one,  the 
power  and  glory;  the  other,  the  love  of  God. 

But  my  way  is  not  like  the  peaceful  flow  of  a  river,  but  like  a 
stream  of  cascades.  By  leaps  I  draw  nearer  to  God.  In  the  mean- 
time I  do  not  keep  the  image  of  Jesus  before  me.  Pray,  dear 
mother,  this  special  prayer  for  me,  that  my  faith  may  be  constant; 
that  self  shall  no  more  come  between  it  and  Jesus;  that  surround- 
ings shall  not  weaken  it;  that  youth  shall  not  neglect  it.  Jesus 
has  stamped  my  soul  with  his  blood.  It  can  never  be  effaced,  but 
my  soul  does  not  thrill  as  often  as  I  wish  with  the  joy  of  right- 
doing.  Belief  in  Jesus  permeates  my  whole  being.  Why  do  I  some- 
times stray  from  his  love?  Repentance  is  doubly  grievous  then, 
and  repent  I  must.  My  conscience  compels  me.  The  prayers  of  a 
saintly  woman  will  be  heard.  You  will  pray  for  me  for  Jesus' 
sake.  Yours  in  the  Lord, 

SIGNED. 


Thanksgiving  Day,  1885. 
Dear  Mother  in  the  Lord: 

With  what  mingled  emotions  of  joy,  gratitude  and  love,  I  read 
your  faith  inspiring  letter.  I  did  not  expect  it,  for  one  Sunday  in 
the  chapel  the  Chaplain  read  one  from  you  addressed  to  us  all  in 
general.  He  also  told  us  something  about  your  way — what  a  lonely, 
weary  way.  What  a  sorrow  yours  has  been!  Can  we  poor  mortals 
ever  forget  our  sorrow?  Does  it  not  rise  to  the  surface  at  times  and 
overwhelm  us,  so  that  nothing  but  the  soothing  presence  of  Jesus 
can  comfort  us?  "I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless;  I  will  come  to 
you. ' ' 

A  common  saying  here  is:  "I  don't  believe  in  a  man  coming  to 
prison  to  reform."  Ah!  little  they  know  what  reform  is,  for  where 
on  earth  does  one  need  the  Spirit  that  reforms  more  than  in  prison? 
Our  poets  tell  us  that  prisons  are  the  types  of  hell.  I  bless  God 
for  bringing  mo  to  this  prison.  Out  of  its  depths  I  cried  and  He 
heard  me,  nor  do  I  pray  to  be  free  from  its  thrall.  Indeed  I  do 
pray  for  His  will  to  be  done  in  me  and  beseech  Him  to  keep  me 
here  until  He  calls  me  to  Himself,  rather  than  I  should  go  free 
again  and  forget  Him.  That  I  never  can.  Though  1  fell  to  the 
lowest  depths,  I  could  never  forget  Him.  Dear  Mother,  we  will 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  89 

meet  Him — Jesus — in  Heaven.  Oh!  I  do  not  want  the  pleasures  of 
this  life!  I  do  want  to  be,  like  you,  His  humble  follower.  How 
I  wish  I  could  be  near  you  always  that  your  faith  might  ever 
increase  my  own.  I  need,  very  much  I  need,  the  pure  and  tender 
influence  of  a  holy  praying  "mother."  My  own  mother  had  a 
loving  heart,  but  neither  she  nor  my  father  did  I  ever  see  praying. 
My  precious  Saviour  was  never  revealed  to  me  from  the  lips  of 
either.  What  would  have  become  of  me  had  God  deferred  this 
discipline?  Would  I  not  have  gone  on  in  sin  until  too  late,  even 
had  I  been  sent  here  for  a  short  term  of  years?  My  only  thought 
would  be  for  them  to  end,  that  I  might  pursue  again  the  delusive 
hopes  of  sin. 

I  fully  realize  my  position  here.  I  see  the  providence  of  God 
that  makes  it  a  blessing. 

I  would  tell  you  the  way  Jesus  came  to  me,  or  rather  how  I  came 
to  Him.  When  first  I  came  here  I  did  not  think  of  what  was  in 
store  for  me — eighteen  years  of  prison  life.  I  was  wild  and  thought- 
less. The  strangeness  of  the  place  helped  to  divert  my  mind,  but 
the  solitude  of  my  cell  at  night  forced  me  to  look  into  the  future. 
At  length  my  fate  dawned  upon  me.  Oh!  it  was  terrible!  Dur- 
ing the  day  I  would  try  to  forget  the  thoughts  of  the  night  by  being 
mere  wild  than  ever,  but  the  night  brought  the  ordeal  again  and  it 
was  driving  me  to  despair.  I  longed  to  be  dead,  but  one  night  the 
thought  came:  "Suppose  you  were  dead,  what  then?  Would  you 
be  at  rest?"  I  say  thought,  but  if  ever  the  Holy  Spirit  spoke  to 
the  soul  of  man,  it  spoke  to  mine  that  night.  In  an  instant  I  saw 
the  enormity  of  my  sins  and  the  punishment  in  store  for  me.  In 
terror  I  cried:  "O,  what  shall  I  do?  Oh,  I  cannot  die!  I  cannot 
meet  this  doom!"  Need  I  say  that  my  cry  was  not  in  vain?  No, 
the  spirit  of  Jesus  taught  me  of  Himself  that  night,  and  the  Chap- 
lain showed  me  some  words  in  the  gospel  of  John.  I  never  read 
the  Bible  before,  but  there  were  Christ's  words,  and  those  words  I 
now  read  often.  The  Psalms  and  St.  John  contain  for  me  the  Way 
of  Life. 

I  do  not  forget  you  in  my  feeble  prayers  morning  and  night,  pnd 
I  hope  you  will  be  indeed  my  "Mother"  for  Jesus'  sake.  Amen. 


9O  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

June  16,  1890. 
My  Dear  Friend  and  Spiritual  Mother: 

I  thank  you  very  much  for  your  kind  letter,  which  I  received 
today.  I  pray  that  you  may  die  in  the  harness,  leaving  your  work 
to  just  pass  over  the  river  into  Heaven. 

Have  you  heard  that  our  dear  Chaplain's  helpmeet  has  recently 
taken  this  journey1?  The  Chaplain  takes  it  just  as  one  would  expect 
he  would,  calmly,  with  faith  unabated,  rather  increased,  for  he  said 
to  me  the  day  after  the  funeral:  "The  peace  of  God  in  my  heart 
passeth  understanding."  This  evidence  of  real  trust  in  God's  mercy, 
and  that  He  is  and  heaven  is,  has  been  the  means  of  bringing  me 
nearer  to  God. 

I  am  reading  a  book  by  "H.  W.  S."  entitled  "Frank:  the 
Record  of  a  Happy  Life."  It  is  very  inspiring.  I  have  been  con- 
vinced for  some  time  that  the  higher  Christian  life  was  a  reality, 
and  had  for  a  while  experienced  its  blessings.  But  I  lived  upon 
the  experience,  drawing  my  strength  from  it  and  not  from  God, 
consequently  I  soon  got  back  to  where  I  was  before.  But  the  Holy 
Spirit  has  of  late  been  urging  me  to  seek  it  again,  so  that  I  have 
consecrated  myself  anew  to  the  Lord,  and  He  has  blessed  me  won- 
derfully, taking  away  the  irritable  feeling  that  certain  trials  were 
sure  to  bring  to  me.  I  forget  self  and  think  only  of  doing  good 
to  those  who  before  I  felt  like  shunning.  It  makes  me  feel  very 
humble  in  my  happiness.  Dear  Mother,  I  am  sure  you  have  enjoyed 
this  blessed  experience  of  living  moment  by  moment  to  God,  being 
kept  by  Him  from  all  sin  and  the  power  of  temptation. 

I  have  read  that  many  Christians  do  not  believe  that  the  blood 
of  Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin.  This  appears  very  strange  to  me. 
1  don  7t  see  how  they  can  be  so  blind.  When  this  blessed  thought 
was  shown  me  I  could  not  help  believing  it,  it  seemed  so  plain,  and 
was  really  needful  for  us  to  have  in  order  to  live  up  to  the  com- 
mands of  the  gospel. 

Tuesday  P.  M.,  17th. 

They  are  celebrating  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  today.  We  have 
had  our  holiday  and  are  now  in  our  rooms  for  the  rest  of  the  day. 
It  is  a  perfect  summer  day,  mild,  with  a  refreshing  breeze  floating 
through  the  windows.  My  bird  hangs  above  me  chirping,  enjoying 
himself,  while  the  murmur  of  voices  in  the  guard  room,  with  now 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  9 1 

and  then  the  joyous  shout  of  a  baby,  make  me  feel  like  shutting 
my  eyes  and  imagining  myself  far  away  from  these  stones  and  bars. 

#     *     *     * 

I  firmly  believe  that  an  educated  Christian  who  is  wholly  con- 
secrated shall  be  used  by  the  Lord  where  an  uneducated  one  would 
not.  You  know  it  was  to  Paul,  the  highly  educated,  that  was  in- 
trusted the  greatest  work  of  the  Apostles,  viz:  To  convert  the 
heathen  world.  In  Athens,  the  center  of  intellectual  life,  he 
preached,  quoting  to  them  from  their  own  poets  and  converting  cer- 
tain philosophers  of  whom  was  Dionysius,  one  of  the  city 's  judges. 
Intellectual  ability  is  a  talent  which  the  Lord  requires  us  to  use  for 
His  kingdom.  We  need  never  fear  for  education,  "While  near  the 
school  the  church  spire  stands., ' '  as  the  Quaker  poet,  Whittier, 
puts  it. 

Our  prayer  meeting  is  growing  both  in  numbers  and  in  interest. 
We  hold  an  election  of  officers  today.  I  resigned  the  leadership 
owing  to  my  duties  in  the  library  being  such  that  I  could  not 
attend  regularly.  I,  however,  accepted  the  place  of  chairman  of 
the  standing  committee.  The  Warden  has  allowed  the  teachers  of 
the  night  school  to  organize  a  society  for  the  purpose  of  general 
culture.  Last  Friday  the  constitution  and  by-laws  were  submit- 
ted for  approval.  Next  Friday  the  election  of  officers  will  be  held. 
I  have  been  embarrassed  by  several  members  asking  me  to  accept 
the  position  of  president.  I  know  that  I  am  not  qualified  for  the 
position,  but  they  think  otherwise  and  are  persistent.  These,  and 
other  tokens  of  regard  and  respect  for  me  by  my  fellow  prisoners,  I 
am  very  grateful  for. 

It  makes  me  feel,  too,  that  my  Christian  life  here  has  not  been 
without  results  among  them.  They  respect  my  scruples — something 
I  hardly  think  people  outside  are  in  the  habit  of  doing.  You  will 
understand  that  I  look  upon  all  this  as  the  Lord's  doings,  and  feel 
no  self-praise  over  it.  To  Him  be  all  the  praise  for  giving  me  the 
courage  and  strength  to  let  my  light  shine  before  the  men  in  this 
prison.  O !  it  is  good  to  be  on  the  Lord 's  side,  to  let  Him  order  my 
way.  I  pray  that  I  may  never  have  a  will  of  my  own  in  this  respect. 
I  feel  so  perfectly  willing  to  remain  here  and  serve  Him  in  my 
feeble  way,  only  praying  that  if  a  larger  opportunity  comes  to  me 
F  shall  not  be  found  wanting,  only  believing  that  with  the  oppor- 
tunity will  come  added  strength  and  power  from  on  high.  The 


92  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

Holy  Spirit  has  so  witnessed  to  my  spirit  that  God  is  and  that  He 
is  a  rewarder  of  them  that  diligently  seek  Him,  and  that  Jesus  is 
my  Saviour,  that  the  bare  thought  of  being  unfaithful  brings  intense 
pain  to  my  soul.  No,  I  can  never  be  happy  away  from  my  Saviour. 
With  His  faith  filling  my  being,  His  peace  shall  abide  with  me. 

1  pray  daily  for  my  spiritual  ' 'Mother,"  that  the  Lord  shall 
bless  her  in  all  heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus,  that  the  Holy  Spirit 
shall  rest  upon  you,  giving  you  the  word  of  truth  to  speak  to  the 
lost  souls  in  all  the  places  you  go  to. 

With  much  love,  I  remain 

Your  son  and  brother  in  the  Lord, 


Oct.   23,   1894. 
My  Dear  Mother: 

I  have  been  waiting  to  hear  from  you  so  I  could  write  and  let 
you  know  of  the  good  news  that  has  come  to  me.  I  am  no  longer  in 
prison.  I  have  been  let  out  on  parole.  This  means  that  I  am  still 
a  prisoner,  but  am  given  larger  liberty.  I  shall  not  be  allowed  to 
leave  this  city  nor  engage  in  mission  work,  that  is  to  give  my  whole 
time  to  it.  I  have  to  report  to  the  secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Prison  Commissioners  every  month.  When  I  get  a  room  I  am  going 
to  devote  the  most  of  my  spare  time  to  study.  I  go  to  a  mission 
at  the  North  End,  but  have  no  regular  church  connections.  I  have 

been   living   with    Mr.   since   coming    out,   but   will   leave   him 

within  a  week.     He  has  been  a  good   friend  to  me.     He  has  been 
so  ill  all  this  year  that  he  has  been  to  the  prison  only  a  few  times. 

I  am  happy  in  my  new  life.  The  Lord  is  blessing  me  wonder- 
fully. There  is  no  other  life  worth  living  here  below  but  following 
in  the  way  of  the  Lord. 

With  much  love,  I  remain 

Your  son  in  the  Lord, 

A  TALENTED  YOUNG  MAN. 

Soon  after  entering  upon  prison  work,  I  found  in  one  of 
our  eastern  prisons  the  writer  of  the  following  letters  and 
articles.  He  was  at  that  time  young,  gifted,  scholarly  and 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  93 

very  prepossessing  in  appearance.  His  penmanship  was 
beautiful,  perhaps  the  most  so  I  have  ever  seen,  but  he  had 
fallen  under  evil  influences  and  the  very  gift  that  should 
have  been  used  for  a  better  purpose  proved  a  curse  and  at 
the  time  I  first  saw  him  he  was  under  sentence  for  forgery. 
He  seemed  to  be  clearly  converted  in  a  meeting  I  held  in 
the  prison  and  proved  faithful  during  the  remainder  of  his 
term.  But  after  he  went  out  into  the  world  I  lost  trace  of 
him.  He  was  only  one  among  thousands  who  need  sym- 
pathy and  help  and  encouragement.  I  trust  that,  if  living, 
he  is  still  true  to  himself  and  to  God.  Some  of  his  letters 
follow,  also  the  discourse  on  the  Agony  in  the  Garden  in 
the  form  of  a  letter  found  in  the  appendix  is  of  his  writing. 

Oct.  29,  1885. 
To  Mrs.  Wheaton. 

Madame:  Not  being  able  to  shake  hands,  and  having  thus  been 
deprived  of  the  pleasure  of  verbally  telling  you  what  we  had  to 
say,  we  now  have  recourse  to  our  pen.  Our  hearts  have  heard,  under- 
stood and  treasured  your  words  of  last  Sunday. 

Dear  Lady,  yours  is  a  special  task.  In  your  field  of  labor  are 
gathered  crowds  unnumbered,  inert,  inanimate,  forming,  as  it  were, 
a  great  desert,  a  Dead  Sea  uninhabited  by  any  living  thing.  There 
lies  a  small  world  to  be  reconquered;  such  are  the  men  who  are  to 
be  reclaimed.  How  act  upon  them?  How  move  their  hearts?  How 
gain  mastery  over  them?  In  these  questions  lies  the  secret  of  the 
future. 

Holiness  in  your  heart  and  the  omnipotent  hand  of  Jesus  in 
yours  cannot  fail  to  bring  about  the  reformation  of  a  host  of  crim- 
inals. He  will  save  them.  Oh!  climb  the  heights,  display  the 
brilliancy  of  those  universal  truths  in  whose  presence  every  being 
gifted  with  reason  and  accessible  to  reflection  feels  compelled  to 
bend  the  knee.  Deeds,  examples,  striking  evidence  and  incontest- 
able proofs  of  abnegation,  devotedness,  charity  and  sacrifices  are 
required.  These  are  the  sermons  that  awaken  souls  from  their 


94  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

torpor;    these   the   weapons   that    triumph    over   the   world,    however 
criminal,  careless,  frivolous  and   hardened  it  may  be. 

SIGNED. 


December  1,  1885. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton, 

Somewhere  in  America. 
Let  me  begin  this  letter  by  saying  something  very  true  concerning 

RUM. 

Let   thy   devotees   extol    thee, 

And  thy  wondrous  virtues  sum  : 
But  the  worst  of  names  I'll  call  thee, 
O,  thou  hydra  monster,  Rum  ! 

Pimple-maker,  visage-bloater, 

Health-corrupter,  idler's  mate ; 
Mischief  breeder,  vice  promoter, 

Credit  spoiler,  devil's  bait. 

Almshouse  builder,  pauper  maker, 

Trust  betrayer,  sorrow's  source ; 
Pocket  emptier,   Sabbath  breaker, 

Conscience  stifler,  guilt's  resource. 

Nerve  enfeebler,  system  shatterer, 

Thirst  increaser,  vagrant  thief ; 
Cough   producer,   treacherous   flatterer, 

Mud  bedauber,  mock  relief. 

Business  hinderer,  spleen  instiller, 

Woe  begetter,  friendship's  bane ; 
Anger  heater,  Bridewell  filler, 

Debt  involver,  toper's  chain. 

Memory  drowner,  honor  wrecker, 

Judgment  warper,   blue-faced  quack ; 
Feud  beginner,  rags  bedecker, 

Strife  enkindler,  fortune's  wreck. 

Summer's  cooler,  winter's  warmer, 

Blood  polluter,  specious  snare  ; 
Mob  collector,  man  transformer, 

Bond  undoer,  gambler's  fare. 

Speech  bewrangler,  headlong  bringei; 

Vitals  burner,  deadly  fire  ; 
Riot  mover,  firebrand  flinger, 

Discord  kindler,  misery's  sire. 

Sinews  robber,  worth  depriver, 

Strength  subduer,  hideous  foe ; 
Reason  thwarter,  fraud  contriver, 

Money  waster,  nations'  woe. 

Vile  seducer,  joy  dispeller, 

Peace  disturber,  blackguard  guest ; 
Sloth  implanter,  liver  sweller 

Brain  distracter,  hateful  pest. 

Wit  destroyer^  joy  impairer. 

Scandal   dealer,   foul-mouthed  scourge ; 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  95 

Senses  blunter,  youth  ensnarer, 
Crime  inventor,   ruin's  verge. 

Virtue  blaster,  base  deceiver, 

Spite  displayer,  sot's  delight ; 
Noise  exciter,  stomach  heaver, 

Falsehood  spreader,  scorpion's  bite. 

Quarrel  plotter,  rage  discharger, 

Giant  conqueror,  wasteful  sway  ; 
Chin  carbuncler,  tongue  enlarger, 

Malice  venter,  death's  broadway. 

Household  scatterer,  high-hope  dasher, 

Death's  forerunner,  hell's  dire  brink ; 
Ravenous  murderer,  windpipe  slasher, 

Drunkard's  lodging,  meat  and  drink  ! 

The  rum  vender's  power  is  something  enormous.  We  do  not  delude 
ourselves  into  thinking  that  the  fight  for  national  prohibition  will 
bo  easily  won.  In  many  respects  the  liquor  dealers  will  prove  an 
enemy  harder  to  vanquish  than  the  slave  dealers  were.  For  slavery 
was  an  institution  with  a  local  habitation.  It  was  restricted  to 
certain  well-defined  limits.  The  whole  world  knew  where  it  was 
and  what  it  was  doing.  But  rum  is  everywhere.  Its  upholders  are 
woven  into  the  warp  and  woof  of  society  in  every  city  and  hamlet. 
It  has  a  thousand  heads,  and  it  can  hide  them  in  times  of  danger 
with  wonderful  facility.  Slavery  was  bold,  brazen  and  defiant. 
It  could  be  nothing  else.  But  the  liquor  dealers,  with  equal  bravado 
and  strength,  are  enabled  to  resort  to  the  cunning  and  subtlety  of 
the  serpent,  when  bravado  is  imprudent. 

Then  the  liquor  dealer's  influence  over  his  victims  does  not  end 
with  control  of  the  bodies.  His  slaves  are  his  allies.  He  owns  them, 
many  of  them,  body  and  soul  for  such  a  cause.  They  will  fight  for 
rum  and  vote  for  rum  as  persistently  as  the  saloomst  himself.  These 
facts  may  as  well  be  appreciated.  When  it  comes  to  defiant  antag- 
onism, when  temperance  men  boldly  array  themselves  in  professed 
opposition  to  the  traffic  in  alcohol,  the  struggle  will  be  severe.  But 
it  is  certain  there  will  come  no  time  in  the  future  when  it  will  be 
less  severe.  The  liquor  power  is  a  rapidly  growing  power.  God 
knows  it  is  strong  enough  now,  but  it  becomes  stronger  with  each 
passing  day. 

Are  we  willing  that  such  a  class  of  men  not  only  hold  such  an 
enormous  power,  but  add  to  it  indefinitely?  In  the  census  for  1880 
the  capital  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  liquor  was  over  one 
hundred  and  eighteen  million  of  dollars,  and  the  number  of  persons 


96  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

employed  in  the  manufactories  and  in  saloons  aggregated  over  one 
hundred  thousand.  No  nation  can  afford  to  leave  such  power  in 
the  hands  of  such  men.  It  is  suicidal. 

Having  said  my  say  about  ' '  Old  Devil ' '  and  his  ' « Clerks ' '  I  guess 
I  '11  write  a  little  letter  to 
My  Dear  Sister: 

Your   good,   kind   letter'  was   duly   received.     We  sincerely   thank 
you.     When  meeting  with  savages  who  don't  treat  you  respectfully 

please  ever   remember  that  in  M everybody  who  knows   you 

or  about  you  loves  you.  Mrs.  D.  told  me  to  write  to  Mrs.  Wheaton 
because  "she  is  a  lovely  Christian." 

' '  O  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is  good. ' '  Psa.  34 : 8. 
That  is  the  right  way  to  find  out  that  He  is  good.  We  may  think 
He  is  good,  we  may  have  some  idea  that  He  is  so — but  to  know  it, 
ami  to  know  how  very  good  the  Lord  is,  we  must  taste  his  good- 
ness. He  alone  is  good.  He  is  goodness  itself;  and  because  He  is 
this,  He  wants  us  to  taste,  to  enjoy  Him. 

Good  men  and  women,  and  good  children,  will  one  day  be  like 
the  angels  in  heaven;  and  they  begin  to  be  such  already  in  this 
world.  If  it  were  not  for  them,  if  they  were  not  here  to  be  the 
bearers  of  peace  and  happinss,  the  ministers  of  mercy  and  of  love, 
to  wretchedness  and  woe,  to  the  weary  and  the  bowed  down,  how 
wretched  would  this  world  be!  A  thousand  blessings  upon  you, 
beloved  sisters,  who,  from  the  goodness  of  your  great  big  heart, 
endeavor  to  do  gcfbd  to  others.  It  is  through  such  holy  and  devoted 
daughters  of  our  thrice  holy  King  and  Father  as  Sister  Elizabeth 
that  we  taste  and  see  how  good  the  Lord  is. 

"You  see  how  large  a  letter  I  have  written  unto  you  with  mine 
own  hand."  Galatians  6:11.  "I  thank  my  God,  making  mention 
of  thee  always  in  my  prayers."  Philemon,  4. 

"Now  the  God  of  hope  fill  you  with  all  joy  and  peace  in  believ- 
ing that  you  may  abound  in  hope,  through  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost."  Eomans  15:13. 

"Kemember  them  that  are  in  bonds,  as  bound  with  them;  and 
them  which  suffer  adversity,  as  being  yourselves  also  in  the  body." 
Hebrews  13:3. 

W«  salute  thee,  sister. 

Your  real  brother  in  Jesus, 

L.  J. 


OR   A   LABOR   OF   LOVE  97 

Charlestown,  Mass.,  Oct.  18,  1886. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Sister — John  17:20,  21:  "  Everyone  members  one  of  an- 
other. ' '  "If  one  suffer  all  suffer. ' J  I  do  not  know  that  the  rela- 
tion and  consequent  influence  of  member  upon  member  can  be  better 
illustrated  than  by  the  connection  of  the  body,  mind  and  spirit, 
and  the  power  that  any  one  of  the  three  has  over  the  other  two. 

The  mind  depends  upon  the  body  to  carry  out  its  desires,  and 
the  mind  is  in  constant  subjection  to  the  body  in  health  and  in 
sickness.  The  body  is  controlled  by  the  mind  as  the  ship  is  directed 
in  her  course  by  the  man  at  the  helm.  The  spirit  looks  out  through 
the  eyes  of  the  body  and  is  entranced  with  the  scene  of  beauty,  or 
is  crushed  with  the  sorrow  with  which  it  is  seized,  according  as  we 
look  upon  a  thing  of  beauty  or  the  eye  rests  upon  things  withered 
and  dead. 

The  life  and  experience  of  every  man  attest  the  fact  that  thought 
and  emotion,  and  the  body  in  which  the  organs  of  thought  and 
feeling  are  placed,  are  inter-related  in  such  a  way  and  to  such  an 
extent  that  the  mind  and  body  control,  to  a  "very  great  extent,  the 
activity  of  each  other.  The  wise  man,  looking  at  the  inner  life  and 
the  outer  manifestation  of  it,  from  a  little  different  point  of  view, 
expresses  it  thus :  ' '  As  a  mapi  thinketh  in  his  heart  so  is  he.  The 
spirit  of  a  man  will  sustain  his  infirmity,  but  a  wounded  or  broken 
spirit  who  can  bear?"  Says  a  writer  in  the  Laws  of  Health:  '"If' 
a  man  thinks  he  is  an  invalid  he  is  one;  if  he  thinks  himself  incom- 
petent he  is  incompetent,  and  so  through  the  whole  list. "  By 
faith  in  Christ,  as  true  and  confiding  as  the  trust  of  a  child;  by 
boldness  at  the  throne  of  grace;  by  firmness  in  resisting  temptation, 
and  by  resolution  in  the  performance  of  every  duty  we  are  able 
to  maintain  the  connection  we  have  formed  with  Christ,  the  head 
of  the  body;  to  bear  the  fruit  of  the  vine;  to  suffer  with  each 
other ;  to  be  honored  with  the  members  of  the  body,  and  to  rejoice  ; 
with  those  who  rejoice. 

As  the  connection  of  the  body,  mind,  moral  nature-  and  spirit  is 
such  as  to  give  one  part  influence  over  the  other  parts  and  the 
power  to  modify  their  health  and  action,  so  the  relation  which  is 
formed  with  the  household  of  faith,  when  we  come  into  CL.'ist,  is  to 


98  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

be  honored  by  striving  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel  and  by  an  effort 
to  keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace. 

If  one  in  Christ  now,  this  oneness  can  be  maintained  among 
the  brotherhood  in  but  one  way,  and  that  is  by  being  one  with 
Christ  and  God  in  purpose,  plan  and  effort  for  the  salvation  of  men 
and  by  striving  together  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel.  The  unity  of 
God's  people  cannot  be  maintained  by  erecting  standards  of  our 
own — by  making  our  own  opinions  bonds  of  fellowship  and  tests  of 
soundness — by  prescribing  this  and  forbidding  that,  The  unity  is 
to  be  maintained  by  striving  together  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel. 
The  same  thing  is  true  with  reference  to  the  multitudes  who  are 
following  Christ  as  they  have  learned  him.  The  unity  of  all  these 
distracted  bodies  is  not  to  be  brought  about  by  any  effort  to  form 
a  union,  but  by  an  effort  on  the  part  of  each  one  to  grow  up  into 
Christ,  the  living  Head;  by  all  agreeing  to  disagree  in  their  opin- 
ions ;  and  by  all  striving  together  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel.  This 
lesson  is  to  be  taught  the  world  by  the  disciples  of  Christ,  and  if 
we  do  not  teach  the  lesson  aright,  we  may  expect,  and  we  ought  to 
receive  the  question:  What  do  ye  more  than  others? 

When  we  are  growing  in  favor  with  God  and  man;  when  we 
are  increasing  in  the  knowledge  of  divine  things;  when  our  lives 
are  hid  with  Christ  in  God;  when  we  are  appropriating  the  spiritual 
food  which  God  has  furnished;  when  we  are  proving  to  the  world 
that  we  have  passed  from  death  unto  life;  when  we  are  loving  each 
other  with  pure  hearts  fervently;  when  we  are  continuing  steadfast 
in  the  apostles'  doctrines  and  in  the  fellowship,  in  the  breaking  of 
bread  and  in  prayers,  we  are  giving  to  the  world  and  to  professed 
Christians  everywhere  a  living  demonstration  that  we  are  striving 
together  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel. 

"How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  him  that 
bringeth  good  tidings,  that  publisheth  peace;  that  bringeth  good 
tidings  of  good  that  publisheth  salvation;  that  saith  unto  Zion,  Thy 
God  reigneth!" 

Beloved,  I  wish  above  all  things  that  thou  mayest  prosper  and  be 
in  health,  even  as  thy  soul  prospereth.     Ill  John  2. 
Yours  in  His  love, 

L.  J. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  99 

UNDER   DEATH    SENTENCE. 

In  1887,  I  found  the  writer  of  the  following  letters,  with 
nine  other  men,  under  sentence  of  death  in  the  prison  at 
Ft.  Smith,  Arkansas.  Before  his  cell  door  stood  his  wife 
and  four  little  children.  They  all  seemed  heart-broken  and 
I  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  sad,  touching  scene.  After 
talking  with  them  and  praying  for  them,  I  was  led  to  believe 
that  the  man  was  innocent  of  the  crime  for  which  he  and 
another  young  man  had  been  condemned.  The  evidence 
against  them  was  purely  circumstantial.  The  other  man 
was  afterward  given  his  liberty,  but  this  one  was  held,  as 
many  believed,  for  want  of  money  to  hire  lawyers  to  prop- 
erly plead  his  case.  I  still  believe  him  to  be  an  innocent 
man. 

I  left  the  state  a  short  time  before  the  day  set  for  the  exe- 
cution, but  prayed  the  Lord  to  let  his  life  be  spared  if  he 
was  innocent.  Some  time  after  I  learned  that  he,  with  sev- 
eral others,  had  been  given  a  life  sentence  in  the  Ohio  peni- 
tentiary. I  went  to  the  President  and  Attorney  General  in 
Washington,  D.  C,  several  times,  trying,  if  possible,  to 
secure  his  pardon.  They  were  kind  and  courteous  and  after 
looking  up  the  evidence  would  have  granted  him  a  pardon 
if  the  judge  who  had  passed  the  sentence  would  request  it, 
but  he  refused  to  do  so  and  finally  died.  Then  all  hope 
seemed  gone.  The  wife  died  of  a  broken  heart.  The  chil- 
dren all  died  and  the  dear  old  parents,  broken-hearted,  lin- 
gered on,  hoping  against  hope,  until  now  they,  too,  may 
have  passed  away.  But  the  poor  man  lingered  in  prison, 
with  health,  hope,  friends,  youth,  all  gone ;  forgotten  by  the 
world,  waiting  for  death  to  end  his  misery.  I  say  hope 
gone ;  I  mean,  hope  for  freedom  here.  His  hope  of  heaven 
proved  an  anchor  to  his  sorrowing  heart.  He  proved  him- 


IOO  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

self  a  consistent  Christian  and  a  good,  quiet,  obedient  pris- 
oner. A  letter  from  Chaplain  Starr,  Columbus,  Ohio,  tells 
me  that  he  had  been  finally  pardoned  and  was  released  Janu- 
ary 4,  1904. 

I  find  in  my  possession  two  papers  received  from  Wash- 
ington regarding  his  case  of  which  I  give  the  reader  ver- 
batim copies : 


Department  of  Justice. 
Washington. 

Case   of   Mi ,   Western  District   of  Arkansas. 

Offense — Murder. 

Sentence — To  be  hanged. 

Petition  for  pardon  filed  March  11,  1899. 

Commuted  to   life  imprisonment  on  June  7,  1899. 

JAMES  F.  REED,  ESQ., 
U.  S.  Dist.  Atty.,  Western  Dist.  of  Ark., 

Fort   Smith,  Ark. 


Department  of  Justice. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  March  8,  1895. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  E.  Wheaton, 

902  H.  Street,  N.  E. 

Sir :  The  papers  in  the  above  case  have  been  referred,  in  ac- 
cordance with  Department  practice,  to  the  United  States  Attorney 
for  the  Western  District  of  Arkansas  for  his  consideration,  and 
he  has  reported  adversely  thereon,  being  of  the  opinion  that  the 
case  is  not  one  in  which  executive  clemency  should  be  exercised, 
trial  judge  concurring. 

In   the   absence   of   a  counter  showing,   the   report   of  the  United 
States  Attorney  will  be  considered  as  disposing  of  the  case. 
By  direction  of  the  Attorney  General. 
Very  respectfully, 

WILLIAM  C.  ENDICOTT, 
Attorney  in  Charge  of  Pardons. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  IOI 

Fort  Smith,  Ark.,  Feb.   20,   1889. 
Dear  Sister  in  Christ: 

Yours  at  hand.  It  found  a  small  portion  of  us  praying  to  God 
for  aid.  We  keep  up  our  prayer  meeting.  There  is  but  three  of 
us  who  attend  regular.  It  is  myself  and  Mr.  M.  and  T.  We  want 
to  do  all  we  can  to  save  our  souls.  I  am  one  who  is  to  be  executed 
on  the  19th  and  I  am  ready  to  go  if  God  says  for  me  to  go.  I 
am  sure  to  meet  you  in  Heaven  where  there  is  no  unjust  court.  I 
want  you  to  pray  for  me  in  good  faith,  for  the  prayers  of  the 
righteous  are  powerful  and  I  want  you  to  remember  the  day  I 
am  to  die  and  pray  for  my  soul  to  go  to  God  where  I  can  see 
everlasting  enjoyment. 

I  am  sad,  sister.  It  hurts  my  heart  to  think  I  have  been  a 
good,  affectionate  man  on  earth  and  now  I  must  die  for  the  wicked 
world  or  man's  evil.  I  forgive  all  and  will  die  an  innocent  man. 
"God  receive  my  soul"  is  my  prayer. 

Brother  and  sister 'B.  came  and  prayed  for  us  last  week.  Write 
me  again  and  I  will  give  you  all  the  news. 

Yours  truly,  M . 

I  had  to  stop  writing  to  get  to  prayer  meeting  and  I  tell  you, 
we  had  a  good  time.  It  does  me  good  to  get  to  say  a  word  for 
Jesus,  in  jail  or  out.  I  am  as  happy  as  anyone  could  be  in  prison, 
I  am  sure.  I  am  blessed  with  a  sure  love  of  God  who  can  save 
or  destroy.  We  don 't  have  preaching  very  often  in  here.  There 
are  ten  in  here  who  are  found  guilty  of  murder.  It  is  no  wonder 
people  think  they  can 't  get  justice.  I  am  sure  it  is  on  account  of 
so  many  bad  people  being  in  the  territory  and  around  it. 

I  am  thankful  I  am  even  spared  to  see  a  few  more  days  and 
to  let  me  have  more  time  to  try  for  justice.  I  am  doing  all  I 
can  and  so  are  my  friends  and  relatives.  I  have  a  good  father  and 
mother  to  pray  for  me  day  and  night  and  am  sure  there  is  many 
a  prayer  gone  to  Jesus  in  my  behalf. 

Hoping  to  hear   from  you  soon,  I  say  good-bye.     I  am, 

Yours  very  truly,  M . 


Fort  Smith,  Arkansas,  March  13,  1889. 
Dear   Sister  in  Christ: 

Yours  at  hand.     It  found  me  well  and  still  pleading  to  God  to 


102  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

prepare  my  soul  to  meet  my  fate  on  the  19th  of  April.  It  is  an 
awful  day  for  me  to  think  of.  I  do  hope  and  pray  to  God  I  won't 
be  put  to  death  in  such  a  cruel  manner.  I  don't  deserve  such  a 
death,  or  any  punishment  at  all  for  the  accused  crime.  I  don't  fear 
death,  but  I  don't  want  to  disgrace  so  many  good  people  as  it  will 
be  a  disgrace  on  all  my  relatives  and  me  as  clear  of  murder  as 
a  child,  and  I  don't  believe  God  will  allow  me  to  be  put  to  death 
without  a  cause,  but  if  God  tells  me  to  go  on  the  scaffold  I  will 
obey  Him. 

1  had  a  dear  brother  come  to  see  me  this  week,  and  when  he  left 
me  it  just  looked  like  it  was  the  last  sight  of  the  dear  brother, 

although  he  said,  "I  will  come  to  see  you  again  before ,"  then 

he  choked  down  and  went  away.  He  meant,  "  Before  you  are 
executed."  It  would  do  my  dear  old  parents  an  awful  sight 
of  good  to  get  a  letter  from  you,  stating  what  I  said  in  regard  to 
a  future  home.  I  do  wish  you  would  write  them. 

We  keep  up  our  prayer  meeting  as  regular  as  the  time  comes, 
except  we  are  hindered  by  a  good  cause.  Seldom  we  miss  our 
meeting  and  prayers  together.  I  am  sorry  to  say  there  is  only 
three  of  us  and  I  am  all  the  doomed  one  of  the  three.  I  want 
you  when  you  are  visiting  prisons  in  Texas  to  inquire  for  a  man 
by  the  name  of  John  H.,  as  I  have  heard  he  was  arrested  in 
Texas  somewhere  and  was  in  jail.  This  is  the  same  name  as  the 
man  we  are  accused  of  killing,  and  it  may  be  the  same  man.  I 
wrote  to  Paris,  Texas,  but  he  was  not  there.  If  you  find  him  let 
me  know  at  once.  You  can  ask  him  if  he  ever  knew  Henry  M.  and 
William  W.  He  might  deny  us,  so  you  can  give  me  a  description 
and  I  can. tell  if  it  is  him.  Ask  him  of  what  nationality  he  is. 

God  bless  you  all  and  send  me  relief  at  the  last  hour.  Amen. 
I  am,  Your  true  and  affectionate  brother  in  Christ, 

M . 


Fort  Smith,  Arkansas,  April  11,  1889. 
Mrs.  Wheaton, 

Dear  Sister  in  Christ: 

Your  kind  and  welcome  letter  at  hand.  I  hope  you  are  being 
blessed  by  our  Almighty  God.  I  am  sure  you  are  worthy  of  great 
praise  in  well-doing.  I  am  very  sorry  to  inform  you  I  am  not 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  1 03 

pardoned  yet,  but  I  thank  God  I  have  been  respited  till  June  29. 
It  was  thankful  news  for  me  and  I  am  sure  it  is  the  power  of  our 
God  who  wants  justice  done  in  everything  here  on  earth.  Oh, 
what  a  great  promise  Jesus  has  promised  us  all  if  we  will  humble 
ourselves  and  get  low  down  at  his  feet!  I  am  one  that  wants  to 
bow  as  low  as  I  am  required.  I  am  a  servant  for  Jesus  as  long 
as  I  remain  in  this  sinful  world. 

T  am  so  glad  my  dear  old  pa  wrote  you.  I  don't  get  any 
letters  from  him.  I  suppose  he  writes  so  pitiful  to  me  the  jailer 
won't  let  me  have  his  letters.  I  do  not  know  any  other  cause.  I 
receive  letters  from  my  brotheus  and  sisters  regular.  I  thank  you 
for  the  letter  father  sent  you.  My  misfortune  is  an  awful  burden 
on  their  poor,  eld  and  feeble  hearts,  but  I  pray  God  to  stay  them 
and  help  them  to  bear  their  sorrows»and  I  am  sure  He  will  do  so. 

Mr.  W.,  my  partner,  is  granted  a  free  pardon  and  the  President 
did  not  have  time  to  investigate  the  evidence  in  my  behalf,  so  he 
respited  me  for  further  investigation.  Several  of  the  senators  are 
taking  an  anxious  part  for  me  and  it  is  thought  I  will  get  a  par- 
don. 1  trust  in  God  I  will  be  set  free  and  can  be  able  to  help  catch 
sinners  for  Jesus;  I  am  sure  I  am  willing. 

I  am  sorry  to  inform  you  Brother  M.  was  convicted  of  a  brutal 
murder  as  the  evidence  shows.  I  hope  he  is  not  guilty,  but  we 
must  not  say. 

It  is  a  sad  place  here.  Brother  George  B.  and  Brother  T.  have 
gone  back  in  the  world.  There  is  nothing  done  for  Brother  George 
yet  and  his  time  is  short. 

The  President  refused  to  do  anything  for  M.,  that  one-armed 
colored  man,  so  he  must  meet  his  Jesus  on  the  19th  of  this  month. 
There  is  three  more,  but  the  President  has  not  ruled  on  their  cases 
yet.  I  don't  know  whether  they  will  be  hung  or  not.  I  hope  not. 
God  help  them  all. 

I  want  you  to  please  write  me.  It  does  me  good  to  read  a  letter 
from  you.  Write  soon.  M . 


Fort   Smith,   Ark.,   May    1,    1889. 
Dear  Sister  in  Christ: 

Yours  at  hand.    It  found  us  all  in  good  health,  and  for  myself,  I 
am  looking  to  Jesus,     We  still  keep  up  our  prayer  meeting.     It  is 


IO4  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

a  great  comfort  for  me  to  get  to  tell  Jesus  how  I  feel  and  to  hear 
the  other  brothers  pray  and  talk  for  Him.  Of  course  I  know  it  is 
hard  for  me  and  some  others  to  bear  this  punishment,  yet  I  feel 
the  kindness  of  our  kind  Saviour  in  my  poor,  sad  heart.  I  only 
ask  God  to  save  my  life  and  I  am  willing  to  spend  the  rest  of  my 
days  in  his  service.  I  can  only  trust  God  that  all  will  come  out 
right. 

I  will  tell  you  of  the  dear  ones  who  were  hung  on  the  19th.  It 
was  J.  M.  and  A.  Both  were  colored  men.  M.  had  the  Catholic 
priest  pray  for  him  and  he  said  he  was  going  to  heaven.  He  was 
very  moody  and  pale,  but  he  seemed  to  know  his  doom.  Poor 
fellow!  God  pity  us  all,  for  we  have  souls  to  save.  A.  joined  the 
Methodist  church  and  was  baptized  the  same  day  he  was  hung. 
He  was  the  bravest  soldier  I  e^ver  heard  of.  He  smiled  and  said, 
"Good-bye,  Henry."  I  had  to  shed  tears  to  see  and  feel  the 
nerves  quivering  when  he  and  I  both  knew  that  it  was  death  caused 
the  quivering  of  his  pulse.  Poor  boys!  They  are  better  off  than 
I  am,  if  they  had  made  their  peace  with  God. 

Brother  M.  was  convicted  and  is  sentenced  to  be  hung  July  17. 
There  is  five  to  be  hung  on  that  day.  One  colored  man  and  one 
Indian  woman  and  one  Indian  man  and  F.  C.  and  Brother  M. 
Myself  and  George  B.  got  a  respite.  His  is  till  June  21  and  mine 
till  June  29.  W.  got  a  free  pardon  and  I  am  held  on  the  same 
evidence.  It  is  because  I  was  poor  and  did  not  send  a  man  to 
pload  for  me  at  Washington,  but  people  think  I  will  come  out 
all  right  yet.  I  leave  it  all  to  God,  who  can  do  me  justice  without 
money. 

For  the  sake  of  each  poor  unfortunate  soul  you  may  chance  to 
meet,  I  ask  God  to  be  near  you  and  show  and  tell  you  a  word  to 
say  to  the  poor  condemned  ones — a  comforting  word  for  their  souls' 
sake.  Joy  and  peace  be  with  you.  You  have  my  prayers,  as  weak 
as  they  are.  Jesus  be  with  us  alL  Amen. 

Write  me  soon.  M . 


Ft.  Smith,  Ark.,  May  20,  1889. 
Dear  Sister  in  Christ: 

Yours  at  hand.  It  found  us  all  well  but  Mr.  T.  He  has  been 
complaining,  but  he  is  better  now.  We  were  blessed  with  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  B.  to  sing  and  pray  for  us  this  morning  and  it  was  a  great 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  I 05 

comfort  to  us  all.  She  was  refused  at  first,  but  after  she  came 
in  and  told  us  we  sent  her  to  Mr.  C.  and  he  told  her  to  "sing  and 
pray  for  those  men  as  much  as  she  wanted  to. "  It  is  queer  for 
a  living  being  to  not  want  the  distressed  to  find  relief,  but  it  seems 
as  though  there  was  but  little  mercy  shown  us  here,  and,  dear  sister, 
I  am  sure  there  are  some  good  hearts  in  here  and  God  surely  will 
not  allow  them  to  be  put  to  death.  Yet  it  has  been  done,  and  it  can  be 
done  again,  and  I  am  not  trusting  in  a  single  word  or  act  of  man. 
1  am  reading  my  Bible  and  asking  God  to  open  my  heart  to  all 
faith  and  charity  and  reveal  all  the  required  secrets  to  my  heart  so 
J  can  become  one  of  his  children  in  faith  and  be  sanctified  in  Him. 
I  am  so  glad  you  wrote  me.  It  does  me  good  to  hear  from  you. 
Write  soon,  as  I  can  only  stay  here  till  June  21.  Good-bye. 

M . 


Columbus,  Ohio,  March  30,  1890. 
Dear  Sister  in  Christ: 

Yours  found  me  in  some  better  health  than  I  was  when  you  last 
saw  me.  I  am  so  glad  you  will  continue  to  write  me.  Like  all 
other  persecuted  souls,  I  sometimes  think  I  have  no  friends.  But 
it  cannot  be  so  in  my  case. 

I  do  not  faint  or  shudder  at  the  idea  of  dying  in  prison.  It 
is  just  as  near  heaven  from  this  prison  as  it  would  be  if  I  was 
at  home  in  the  tender  care  of  dear  parents  and  brothers  and  sis- 
ters. Yet  I  cannot  say  I  am  as  happy  here  as  there  at  home.  I 
am  not.  I  feel  sure  my  time  is  short  in  this  world.  I  have  a  hard 
time.  I  am  in  a  sea  of  tears  daily.  Oh,  it  is  so  hard  to  be  bound 
and  shut  out  from  a  free  world,  but  this  is  all  for  some  purpose, 
unknown  to  me  at  present,  but  by  the  help  of  God,  I  my  burden 
will  bear. 

"I'll  praise  my  Maker  while  I've  breath, 
And   when   my  voice   is   lost   in   death, 
Praise  shall  my  nobler  powers  employ 
In  that  Eternal  World  of  joy." 
"Lord,   remember  me  for  good, 

Passing  through  this  mortal  veil ; 
Show  me  the  atoning  blood 

When  my  strength  and  spirit  fail. 
Give  my  sorrowing  soul  to  see 
Jesus   crucified   for   me." 

"May  God  be  your  helper  and  bless  you,"  is  my  prayer  con- 
tinually. 

I  do   not  aim  to  impress  on  your  mind  that   I   am  punished  by 


106  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

the  prison  laws,  for  I  am  not.  I  haven't  had  a  bit  of  trouble  with 
any  one  since  I  came  into  this  institution.  I  have  to  work  hard 
and  I  do  more  than  I  ought  to,  but  I  am  afraid  I  won't  please 
my  superiors  in  power  over  me.  I  put  in  many  a  sleepless  night 
from  weariness  of  my  daily  labors.  But  I  could  not  stand  any 
punishment,  so  I  had  better  over-do  myself  than  to  be  over-done. 
My  sorrow  is  now  as  much  as  I  can  bear.  I  am  in  need  of  all 
good  praying  people's  prayers,  so  I  ask  you  and  your  friends  to 
pray  for  me. 

I  am  honored  with  all  the  attire  of  a  first-grade-prison  man. 
I  have  the  red  stripes  you  told  me  to  get  and  my  mustache.  The 
boys  you  know  are  well.  M . 


Columbus,  Ohio. 
Dear  Sister  in  Christ: 

Blessed  be  our  God!  He  has  saved  us  thus  far  and  has  given  us 
an  ark  to  carry  us  over  Jordan,  safe  to  Eternity.  We,  as  fallen 
men,  sometimes  err  in  thinking  we  are  not  under  God's  protection, 
but  I  say  we  are.  Jesus  came,  not  to  bring  saints,  but  sinners  to 
repentance.  It  is  not  the  righteous  that  are  called,  but  sinners. 
There  is  only  one  way  and  that  is  by  Jesus  Christ,  and  that  is  to 
humble  ourselves  to  all  that  is  right.  Life  has  yet  many  opportuni- 
ties for  serving  God  and  his  Church.  Hitherto  the  Lord  has 
brought  me  and  still  in  his  loving  hands  I  will  cheerfully,  hope- 
fully rest  and  trust  till  the  shadows  of  earth  shall  be  changed  for 
the  sunlight  of  eternity,  when  my  heavenly  rhome  is  reached,  to 
be  blessed  forever  with  the  Lord. 

Sister,  Brother  M.  says  "God  bless  you,"  and  you  have  his 
prayers.  Bro.  F.  C.  says  he  hopes  to  see  you  soon.  Bro.  B.  is 
all  right  as  far  as  I  know.  They  all  say  write  to  them.  Bro.  T. 
has  forgotten  his  pledge.  May  God  soften  his  heart  again  to  say 
"Thy  will  be  done." 

T  close  by  asking  you  to  write  soon.  God  bless  you  and  all  co- 
workers.  Good-bye,  M. . 

SENTENCED  FOR  LIFE. 

Early  in  my  prison  work  I  found  in  one  of  our  peniten- 
tiaries a  man  sentenced  for  life  who  claimed  to  have  acted 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  I 07 

only  with  the  motive  of  self-defense.  That  man  is  still  con- 
fined in  prison,  though  he  is  one  of  the  best  of  prisoners 
and  has  given  evidence  of  being  a  good,  Qiristian  man, 
worthy  of  pardon.  I  wrote  to  the  governor  once  in  his 
behalf,  but  too  late  to  avail  anything,  as  his  term  of  office 
was  just  expiring.  While  that  poor  man  has  been  held 
there,  pardons  have  been  granted  to  Chinamen,  Spaniards 
and  other  foreigners  who  were  wicked  and  guilty,  yet  this 
Christian  man  has  been  kept  in  confinement  all  these  long 
years,  until  there  is  only  one  other  besides  himself  who  is 
now  left  of  the  prisoners  who  were  there  on  my  first  visit. 
The  other  has  gone  insane  and  I  have  feared  that  the  one  of 
whom  I  write  would  lose  his  mind  also.  His  article  on  the 
need  of  prison  reform  entitled  "Meditations  of  a  Prisoner," 
found  in  another  chapter,  will,  I  believe,  commend  itself 
to  every  fair-minded  reader. 

I  give  a  few  selections  from  his  letters.  I  feel  sure  he 
should  be  a  free  man.  O  the  indifference  of  those  who  have 
the  power  to  free  such  worthy  cases  and  will  not!  May  God 
give  power  to  the  faint  and  grace  to  the  afflicted  and  let  us 
pray  God  to  show  the  governors  of  our  land  to  whom  to 
give  pardon  and  freedom  and  from  whom  to  withhold. 

State   Prison,   December   21,    1902. 
Dear   Mrs.  Wheaton: 

Your  kind  and  welcome  letter  received  and  I  was  very  glad  to 
hear  from  you  and  I  do  hope  you  will  soon  be  strong  again.  The 
world  needs  many  Mother  Wheatons,  so  it  can  ill  afford  to  lose 
you,  but  if  the  Lord  calls  you  home  we  must  all  submit,  for  He 
does  all  things  for  the  best. 

I  was  much  surprised  to  see  by  your  letter  that  you  had  written 
to  Governor  S:  in  my  behalf.  From  my  heart  I  thank  you,  dear 
Sister,  and  may  God  bless  you  for  your  kindly  interest  in  me.  But 
Governor  S.  will  leave  the  office  tomorrow  and  the  newly-elected 
Governor  will  take  his  seat.  It  is  too  bad  tnat  you  have  gone  to 


I08  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

all  that  trouble  for  nothing.  But  the  fact  that  you  did  so  will 
always  be  most  gratefully  remembered  by  myself  and  Charles  G. 
He  also  wants  me  to  send  his  kind  regards  and  thanks  for  your 
good  will  to  him. 

When  you  have  your  book  ready  please  send  me  one.  Could 
you  say  about  when  it  will  be  ready?  I  suppose  you  would  like 
to  know  how  we  spent  Christmas.  It  was  spent  in  the  dining-room, 
but  we  had  a  nice  dinner  and  were  kindly  remembered  by  the 
Warden  and  Chaplain  and  everything  was  very  nice  and  pleasant. 

I  will  close  with  kind  regards  and  best  wishes,  and  may  God 
bless  you. 

Sincerely  yours  in  the  Master 's  service,  E. 


State  Prison,  Aug.   19,   1903. 
Dear   Mrs.  Wheaton : 

I  have  just  received  your  welcome  letter  and  was  very  glad 
to  hear  from  you,  also  to  know  that  you  were  well.  It  is  a  wonder 
you  never  get  tired  of  traveling  so  much.  When  I  think  of  how 
you  are  constantly  battling  for  the  right  in  the  interest  of  lost 
sinners  as  we  are  it  brings  forth  the  thought  in  my  mind — does 
it  pay?  If  one  only  looks  at  the  general  result  he  can  but  say — it 
does  not  pay  that  one  pure  life  should  be  worn  out  in  the  cause 
when  so  few  are  made  to  see  the  error  of  their  ways  and  turn  to 
the  path  of  truth  and  right  along  the  way  of  righteousness. 

But  again,  if  one  life  is  truly  brought  into  the  light  and  a  soul 
saved,  then  we  must  admit  it  pays.  And  I  know  that  your  pil- 
grimage of  mercy  brings  forth  good,  for  all  who  know  you  speak 
kindly  of  you.  Well,  if  a  little  spark  of  love  is  kindled  in  the  heart 
of  the  most  hardened  by  the  kindly  deeds  of  another,  who  can 
tell  how  great  that  spark  may  become?  So  let  us  not  weary  of 
well  doing  but  press  on,  hoping,  for  the  best  and  accepting  the 
wcrst  in  true  Christian  resignation. 

I  gave  your  message  of  love  to  all  the  men  here.  All  were  glad 
to  hear  from  you.  O,  my  dear  friend,  I  am  so  often  troubled  in 
heart  by  the  attitude  of  some  people.  '  Certainly  I  have  been  very 
sinful.  I  have  fully  realized  all  that  was  wrong  in  my  life.  It 
has  been  my  endeavor  to  cast  it  all  out  of  my  life  and  to  build  on 
a  foundation  of  righteousness  and  faith  in  its  place.  I  have  been 
blessed  in  my  effort  by  the  help  of  many  who  I  feel  have  a  per- 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE 

sonal  interest  in  me.  At  the  same  time  no  man  has  been  more 
inhumanly  treated  by  those  who  profess  to  be  Christians  than  I 
have  been  and  am. 

Yes,  my  friend,  we  are  commanded  to  pray  for  such  people. 
This  I  have  done  for  nine  years,  but  the  persecution  still  goes 
on.  May  God  forgive  them. 

Now,  a  few  words  about  the  prison.  Everything  is  changed 
here.  We  have  all  new  officers  and  guards,  also  another  Governor. 
The  Chinese  cook  you  spoke  to  was  pardoned  last  January.  I 
was  denied. 

I  aui,  with  love,  your  sincere  friend,  E. 


January  24,  1904. 
Dear  Sister: 

Your  welcome  letter  duly  received  and  I  was  glad  to  hear  from 
you  and  to  know  that  you  were  well. 

Well,  sister,  I  am  again  denied  a  pardon.  Guess  I  must  die 
here.  Well,  "The  Lord  is  my  shepherd,  I  shall  not  want.''  Still 
the  lack  of  a  Christian  spirit  is  felt  as  rendered  to  me.  You 
remember  the  Chinaman  who  was  cook  for  the  Warden?  Well,  he 
was  pardoned,  likewise  several  Indians  and  many  others  who  were 
without  faith,  but  Christians — oh,  well,  prison  is  a  good  place  for 
their!  it  seems. 

With  kind  love  and  best  wishes  to  you,  I  remain, 

Yours  in  His  service,  E. 


State  Prison,   Feb.   29,   1904. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton: 

Yours  received  and  I  was  glad  to  hear  from  you.  I  am  getting 
along  very  nicely,  but  the  heart  is  often  sad.  Oh,  I  was  so  much 
disappointed,  sand  while  I  was  almost  heart  broken  over  it  I  have 
also  felt  sorry  for  the  friends  that  stood  by  me.  Why,  just  think 
of  it — there  are  five  members  on  the  Board  of  Pardon,  and  they 
all  voted  against  me!  So  you  see  it  is  not  the  Governor  alone 
who  is  against  me,  but  every  one  of  them. 

My  dear  f rien",  I  don  °t  think  you  would  be  able  to  do  anything 
for  me.  The  Lord  is  strong  certainly,  but  the  ones  who  have  my 
freedom  in  their  power  leave  the  commands  of  the  Lord  out  of 


HO  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

the  question.     Bead  the   18th  chapter  of  Matthew,  from  the  21st 
verse  to  the  last  of  the  chapter,  and  you  will  see  what  I  mean. 

Now,  dear  sister,  may  God  help,  bless  and  comfort  you  in  this 
seemingly  cold  world  of  ours,  is  the  prayer  of  your  friend, 

E. 

FAITHFUL  INSIDE  AND  OUTSIDE  OF  PRISON   WALLS. 

Another  case  with  which  I  was  very  much  impressed  in 
the  early  days  of  my  missionary  work  was  that  of  a  young 
man  of  rare  ability,  gifted  and  sensible,  who  was  spending 
a  term  in  one  of  our  United  States  prisons.  He  was  con- 
verted and  began  working  for  God  among  the  other  prison- 
ers. After  faithfully  serving  his  time,  he  left  the  prison 
with  good  prospects.  He  was  taken  into  an  office  and  did 
excedingly  good  service  for  the  company,  also  for  God  and 
souls, — his  past  being  known  only  to  his  pastor,  employers 
and  prison  officials.  After  several  years  he  married  a  most 
estimable  lady  who  was  doing  missionary  work.  They 
prospered  well.  He  was  promoted  from  one  position  to  an- 
other. For  nineteen  years  he  has  lived  a  devoted  Christian. 
All  who  know  him  honor  and  respect  him.  His  wife  has  re- 
cently passed  over  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  He  is  still 
living  a  true  and  noble  life  and  he  is  only  one  of  many 
who  have  served  time  inside  of  prison  walls,  who  are  living 
for  God  outside  and  for  Heaven  at  last.  I  quote  a  few  ex- 
tracts from  letters  received  from  him  during  the  time  of  his 
incarceration. 


In  Prison,  January  12,  1885. 
My  Dear  Friend: 

Your  kind  note  was  received  and  I  was  very  much  pleased  to 
hear  from  you,  but  was  pained  that  you  should  think  for  a  mo- 
ment that  I  was  forgetting  you.  Since  you  left  us  we  have  had 
several  very  earnest  and  interesting  meetings — the  fruit  of  your 
presence  and  labor  among  us.  Praise  God,  He  can  find  his  way 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  III 

inside  prison  walls  as  well  as  outside.  He  is  no  respecter  of  person. 
Many  men,  not  before  confessing  Christ  or  even  anxious  sinners, 
have  stood  up  manfully  for  prayers  and  may  God  give  them  grace 
to  accept  and  believe.  It  is  very  simple,  my  dear  sister,  is  it  not? 
How  I  wish  that  all  could  see  it!  It  only  means  total  surrender 
to  Him,  to  give  up  the  old  longings  and  desires  and  trust  Him 
from  day  to  day.  Then  comes  the  "perfect  peace"  which  is 
vouchsafed  to  them  whose  mind  is  stayed  on  God.  Of  course,  you 
will  see  us  again.  Our  dear  Chaplain  and  Warden  are  doing 
everything  possible  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  all  the  men.  The 
Warden  dignified  our  first  meeting  by  giving  us  his  personal  re- 
ligious experience  at  the  commencement  of  the  service,  and  he  is 
willing  and  anxious  to  encourage  in  every  way  possible  the  re- 
ligious sentiment  now  prevailing.  As  for  our  Chaplain,  I  do  not 
believe  there  is  his  equal.  I  who  am  so  closely  associated  with  him 
can  truly  testify  to  his  untiring  zeal  in  behalf  of  all  of  us.  If 
ever  there  was  a  living  man,  free  from  any  selfish  or  worldly  mo- 
tives, I  believe  it  is  he.  The  moral  tone  has  been  increasing  ever 
since  he  came  among  us.  I  shall  not  feel  at  all  slighted  if  you 
save  your  strength  and  time  by  not  writing  to  me.  Just  send  me 
some  little  message  by  F.  or  any  others  (for  I  see  them  all 
daily),  and  I  shall  be  just  as  well  pleased.  It  is  not  because  I 
do  not  like  to  have  you  write  me,  but  I  had  rather  spare  you,  or 
help  you. 

If  you  will  let  me  know  the  address  of  that  dear  lady  at  Raleigh 
whom  you  stayed  with,  I  will  gladly  make  her  something  and 
would  like  very  much  to  make  something  for  any  other  of  the  dear 
friends  who  are  good  to  you  on  your  pilgrimage  of  love  and  mercy. 
Shall  not  forget  to  make  something  for  your  brother.  May  God 
bless  and  keep  you  and  make  his  face  to  shine  upon  you  for  many 
years  yet  to  come,  and  may  we  finally  meet  in  heaven  where  there 
shall  be  no  more  parting  and  sorrow. 

Your  loving  brother  in  Christ,  C.  W. 


August  8,   1886. 
My  Dear  Friend: 

Do  you  think  we  have  forgotten  youf  Why,  no  indeed!  We 
think  and  speak  of  you  almost  daily,  but  you  are  moving  so  that 
we  hardly  know  where  to  locate  you.  A  day  or  two  ago  L.,  who  is 


112  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

my  friend,  got  a  postal  card  from  you,  and  as  he  cannot  write,  by 
permission  just  now  and  I  have  the  privilege  to  do  so,  I  drop  these 
few  lines  for  him  as  well  as  for  myself. 

How  glad  we  are  to  know  the  Lord  has  prospered  your  work. 
How  literally  is  the  promise  of  Christ  fulfilled,  "Lo,  I  am  with 
you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world. ' '  It  seems  so  wonder- 
ful that  all  people  are  opening  their  doors  to  Christian  workers, 
the  doors  which  a  few  years  ago  were  closed  and  to  be  opened 
only  through  the  power  of  God,  who,  as  Daniel  said,  would  ' '  set 
up  a  kingdom  which  shall  never  be  destroyed,"  but  it  shall  break 
in  pieces  and  consume  all  these  kingdoms  and  shall  stand  forever. 
Our  Sabbath  School  is  not  in  session  this  month  but  will  renew  its 
course  the  first  of  September.  We  like  our  new  Warden  very  well. 
Our  dear  Chaplain  is  still  with  us  and  is  quite  well  and  engaged 
as  ever  in  his  life  work.  His  place  would  be  very  hard  to  fill 
here.  1  have  been  reading  this  morning  the  34th  Psalm — l '  all  my 
fears,"  "all  his  troubles,"  "all  his  afflictions" — a  deliverance 
from  all.  ' '  There  is  no  want  to  them  that  fear  Him. ' '  This 
Psalm  is  full  of  comfort.  Praise  His  name!  We  can  find  help 
and  comfort  in  any  part  of  His  holy  Word.  We  all  pray  for 
God 's  blessing  upon  you  and  your  work  and  for  the  conversion 
and  salvation  of  all  whom  you  minister  unto.  It  does  not  seem  too 
great  a  thing  to  ask  of  the  Lord.  Both  L.  and  F.  send  their  love 
to  you  and  L.  will  write  you  soon.  Also  Mr.  A.  and  Mr.  K.  and 
many  more  send  love  and  best  wishes.  I  shall  always  consider  you 
my  friend,  and  if  in  the  Providence  of  God  we  shall  never  meet 
in  this  world  I  hope  to  meet  you  with  recognition  in  our  eternal 
find  glorious  home  above. 

Truly  your  friend,  C. 


January  29,   1890. 
My  Dear  Friend  and  Mother: 

Your  letter  received  yesterday  made  me  very  happy.  It  was  so 
good  of  you  to  write  so  soon  and  send  such  a  nice  long  letter,  too. 
I  trust  I  am  getting  to  value  a  letter  from  you  as  I  ought,  as  I 
realize  more  and  more  how  your  time  is  so  zealously  occupied  and 
needed.  I  have  ever  valued  your  letters  for  the  help  they  gave 
me,  but  I  value  them  now  for  their  scarcity.  In  the  future,  when 
perhaps  you  may  be  no  more,  I  shall  esteem  them  among  my  most 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  113 

valued  treasures.  Yet  I  may  be  called  first!  We  know  not  the 
hour,  whether  in  youth,  or  old  age,  or  in  our  prime  when  the  angel 
of  death  shall  come  to  summon  us  to  eternity.  "  Watch  therefore, 
be  ye  also  ready,"  are  words  that  I  try  to  keep  ever  in  mind,  or 
rather  to  keep  my  mind  so  stayed  on  Christ  that  moment  by  moment 
He  shall  keep  me  saved  so  that  I  shall  never  need  to  whip  myself 
into  keeping  watch  for  my  Lord.  I  am  glad  you  believe  in  and 
ha"\e  the  blood  cleansing  freedom  from  all  sin.  It  is  an  experience 
that  meets  with  much  opposition  from  worldly  Christians  and  from 
some  whose  good  works  follow  them.  These  latter  really  enjoy  the 
experience,  but  are  prejudiced  at  the  name  given  to  it  by  others. 
I  know  that  it  meets  with  much  opposition.  The  "  Christian  Wit- 
ness ' '  comes  to  the  prison  every  week.  It  is  an  exponent  of  holi- 
ness and  very  interesting,  as  well  as  spiritual.  I  have  a  magazine 
which  contains  a  story  of  an  ex-convict  which  would  do  some  good 
to  those  who  think  there  is  no  hope  or  reform  for  such  an  in- 
dividual. I  shall  mail  you  the  magazine,  and  if  you  can  read  it 
do  so  and  give  it  to  others  to  read. 

After  a  silence  of  several  years  my  father  has  written  me  again. 
You  know  he  is  living  in  C.  and  was  formerly  an  instructor  in 
the  State  Prison  at  S.  He  is  now  old  and  broken  in  health,  making 
him  incapable  for  steady  work,  so  he  is  residing  at  a  soldiers ' 
home.  He  expresses  great  anxiety  in  regard  to  my  future,  think- 
ing me  friendless,  etc.  I  have  written  him  a  long  letter  reviewing 
the  principal  incidents  of  my  prison  life.  How  good  God  has 
been  to  me  and  how  my  mind  is  at  rest  as  regards  the  future  be- 
cause I  have  left  it  in  His  hands.  To  find  favor  with  my  God  is 
all  I  desire.  Having  that,  whatever  my  condition  I  shall  be  like 
St.  Paul,  content.  That  is  my  view  of  a  successful  future  or 
life.  Wealth,  power,  ability,  all  things  that  men  aspire  to  in  this 
life,  do  not  make  or  lead  to  success  in  my  mind.  Nothing  but  the 
favor  of  God  brings  it  to  man,  and  that  favor  comes  through  the 
"washing  of  regeneration  and  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost." 
Oh,  I  am  so  glad  that  I  know  this — even  me!  How  can  man  doubt 
the  wondrous  love  of  God  when  He  is  so  patient  to  all  who  will 
but  look  and  see.  Well,  said  someone,  that  they  do  not  want  to 
look  and  see  lest  they  should  be  healed  and  be  saved.  My  poor  old 
father  is  a  church-member,  but  I  fear  he  knows  nothing  about 
Holy  Ghost  religion,  Jesus  Christ 's  religion,  pure  and  undefiled.  I 


114  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

want  to  do  just  right  all  of  the  time.  I  know  my  heart  is  right 
because  I  hate  sin  and  love  righteousness.  If  the  Lord  has  no 
other  work  for  me  when  I  leave  here,  I  would  like  to  labor  under 
your  guidance.  When  are  you  coming  this  way  again?  I  would  love 
to  greet  you  once  more  before  I  die.  C. 


From  every   nodding   flower,    from   every   whispering   breeze 

From  mountain 's  lofty  height,  from  towering  trees, 

From  softly  twinkling  star,  from  lightning's  giddy  flash, 

From  the  softest  twitter  of  a  bird  and  thunder's  awful  crash, 

From  hills  the  ants  may  call  their  own, 

From  crested  elders    'round  their  throne, 

From  babbling  brook,  from  storm-lashed  wave, 

From  nature  smiling,  nature  grave, 

From  earth  and  air,  from  sky  and  sea, 

There  comes  the  self  same  voice  to  me, 

Like  softest  note  of  cooing  dove, 

And  sweetly  whispers,  "GOD  is  LOVE." 

— A  Prisoner. 


ADMINISTRATION     BUILDING,     MITCHELVILLE,    IOWA. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Letters  from  Co-workers,  and  Some  of  My  Prison  Girls. 

In  speaking  of  prisoners  or  of  those  within  prison  walls 
many  think  only  of  men  being  found  there.  This  is  diuj 
doubtless  to  the  few  women  compared  to  the  number  or  men 
found  in  these  places.  In  my  efforts  to  do  good  to  all,  I 
have  been  especially  mindful  of  those  of  my  own  sex,  and 
have  ever  endeavored  to  encourage  and  lift  up  my  sisters 
who  have  fallen  victims  to  sin  and  misfortune.  I  give  in 
this  chapter  a  few  letters  from  sisters  who  are  directly  in- 
terested in  the  care  and  work  for  the  prison  bound;  also 
extracts  from  letters  from  a  number  of  my  prison  girls. 
The  co-operation  in  my  work  and  the  kindness  and  hos- 
pitality ever  shown  me  by  the  sisters,  matrons,  wives  of  of- 
ficers, etc.,  are  especially  appreciated,  and  all  these  dear  ones 
are  often  remembered  at  the  throne  of  divine  grace.  These 
too  shall  all  share  in  the  fruit  of  the  toil  and  labor  in  the 
final  reckoning.  Neither  will  my  girls  whom  I  have  tried  to 
help,  that  have  shown  their  appreciation  and  have  tried  to 
serve  the  Lord,  be  forgotten. 

Women  who  are  the  victims  of  sin  arid  are  condemned  by 
society  and  the  law,,  have  as  much  right  to  be  restored  and 
encouraged  when  they  amend  their  ways,  as  have  men.  The 
following  letters  are,  I  believe,  sufficiently  explanatory  in 
themselves,  and  mav  be  read  with  interest. 


Huntsville,  Texas,  Aug.  19,  1904. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

Mr.  Baker,  Superintendent  of  Prison,  said  he  would  like  for  you 
to  visit  our  prison  once  a  year;  they  all  were  pleased  with  you. 
Dear  Mother,  please  pray  for  little  George,  that  he  may  be  truly 


Il8  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

converted  to  God  and  take  an  interest  in  his  studies.  It  seems 
that  he  has  no  desire  for  them.  My  greatest  aspiration  is  to  live 
to  see  him  saved  and  have  an  education.  How  my  heart 
goes  out  for  him!  I  feel  that  I  won't  be  with  him  long.  I 
sometimes  think  that  I  had  rather  see  him  put  away  before  I  go, 
then  I  would  know  where  he  was.  When  you  go  to  the  Faith  Home 
pray  for  us  that  if  it  be  God's  will  that  I  may  be  relieved  of 
afflictions  and  that  my  husband  may  be  able  to  do  a  great  and 


CHAPLAIN  S    RESIDENCE,    HUNTSVILLE,    TEXAS. 

lasting  work  for  the  poor  unfortunate  men.     Dear  mother,   I  write 
you  because  I  have  confidence  in  you.     May  God  bless  you. 

MRS.   MARY   MCDONALD. 
(Wife  of  Chaplain  at  Huntsville,  Tex.,  a  great  sufferer.— E.  K,  W.) 


My  Dear  Mrs.  Wheaton: 

Your  letter  to  one  of  our  boys  was  handed  to  me  by  him  today. 
I  enjoyed  reading  it,  and  want  to  write  you  at  once.  I  think 
V.  was  very  seriously  impressed  by  your  service  here,  although  I 
have  not  yet  had  an  opportunity  to  talk  with  him  as  I  have  wanted 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  I IQ 

to.  He  was  sick  yesterday  and  not  in  school.  Tomorrow  I ,  hope 
to  see  him  again.  I  am  so  glad  that  you  had  the  opportunity  of 
seeing  his  parents.  I  know  they  will  be  greatly  benefited  spiritually 
by  your  visit.  I  am  sure  our  blessed  Lord  leads  you,  as  you  carry 
peace  and  comfort  wherever  you  go.  Dear  Mother,  you  comforted 
me.  I  was  impressed,  as  I  have  never  been  before,  by  the  power 
of  prayer,  and  I  know  your  prayers  are  heard  and  answered. 
This  text  came  to  me  over  and  over  while  you  were  here,  ' '  The 
effectual,  fervent  prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much."  I 
felt  instinctively  that  your  prayers  could  help  me.  Oh,  my  friends! 
I  appeal  to  you  to  pray  for  me.  I  may  be  here  only  until  April, 
but  if  God  has  work  here  which  He  wishes  me  to  do,  I  know  He 
will  order  it  that  I  shall  stay  longer.  But  I  do  want  to  be  filled 
with  His  Holy  Spirit,  that  while  I  stay  I  may  do  everything  that 
is  possible  to  warn  and  encourage  these  poor  fallen  brothers  to 
seek  a  Savior's  love  and  forgiveness.  I  want  a  power  which  I  feel 
might  be  mine,  but  it  has  not  yet  come.  I  want  to  reach  the  boys 
and  tell  them  of  Christ's  love,  but  I  have  not  the  power  of  speech. 
I  cannot  convince  them  that  my  Savior  is  their  Savior  too.  So 
often  they  say  to  me,  "Well,  I  guess  that  kind  of  a  life  is  the 
best  kind  to  lead  after  all,  but  I  never  will  make  a  start  in  a 
place  of  this  kind. ' ' 

The  next  day  after  you  left  one  boy  said  to  me  that  he  had  never 
before  heard  a  talk  that  had  impressed  him  as  he  was  impressed 
Tuesday.  I  believe  he  is  seriously  awakened.  I  think  three  others 
are,  also,  beside  the  one  of  whom  I  told  you  the  day  you  left. 
T  think  V.  is  one. 

There  is  a  boy  here  who  says  he  heard  you  in  Kansas  City  eight 
or  nine  years  ago.  He  was  not  at  service,  but  saw  and  recognized 
you.  He  thought  you  would  know  him  if  you  saw  him. 

Yours  in  Christian  love, 

FANNIE  A.  HOYT, 
(Teacher  and  wife  of  Officer.) 

Buena  Vista,  Colo.,  Oct.   24,  1896. 


Atlanta,   Ga.,   Nov.   12,   1893. 
Dear   Mrs.  Gore: 

This  will  introduce  to  you  Mrs.  Wheaton  and  Mrs.  ,  Prison 


I2O  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Evangelists.     You  will  be  so  glad  to  meet  them  and  they  to  meet 
you  and  talk  about  our  dear  boys  "shut  in." 

God  bless  you.  MRS.  CHARLTON  EDHOLM. 

Mrs.  A.  B.  Gore,  Oakland,  Cal. 


Anamosa,  la.,  Nov.  20,  1893. 
Dear  Mrs.  Wheaton: 

Anna  H.  has  written  you  about  the  death  of  Emma  S.  She 
had  a  hard  cold,  not  so  bad  as  some  of  the  girls,  however,  when 
she  left  here.  We  tried  to  persuade  her  to  remain  here  over 
Sunday,  where  it  was  warm,  as  it  was  very  cold  and  stormy.  She, 
however,  insisted  upon  going.  We  of  course  could  not  compel  her  to 
stay,  although  we  felt  it  was  for  the  best.  When  she  reached 
Algona  she  was  too  sick  to  go  into  the  country  five  miles  where 
she  was  going  to  stay.  Tuesday  morning  she  was  taken  out,  and 
Thursday  afternoon  died  with  La  Grippe  or  Pneumonia.  Several  of 
the  women  here  have  had  La  Grippe.  All  seem  to  be  improving,  as 
I  insist  upon  their  taking  excellent  •  care  of  themselves. 

Now,  Mrs.  W'Leaton,  I  hope  you  will  write  to  Anna,  also  a  letter 
to  all  the  girls  that  I  can  read  to  them.  They  will  be  glad  to 
think  you  have  not  forgotten  them.  Trusting  that  you  are  in 
gocd  health  and  that  you  see  good  results  from  your  labors,  I 
remain  your  friend,  JENNIE  A.  POWERS. 


Jefferson   City,   Mo.,   Jan.   25,   1900. 
Dear  Sister: 

Your  card  was  received  in  due  time.  All  glad  to  hear  from  you. 
The  quarantine  is  still  on  at  the  prison.  No  news  there.  No 
visitors  allowed.  No  baskets  sent  in,  only  money.  Mr.  Cook  has 
not  missed  a  day  at  work  since  last  winter.  He  was  off  twelve 
days  to  visit  bis  dear  mother.  She  will  soon  pass  to  the  other 
side.  Your  card  was  filled  with  sadness.  Be  cheerful  and  rejoice, 
for  soon  you  will  go  to  glory  to  praise  Him  forevermore.  I  will 
write  some  to  Sister  Kelley.  Write  me  a  long  letter.  Chaplain 
P.  has  been  on  the  sick  list.  Everything  going  on  nicely.  Never 
had  a  better  warden  than  now  in  the  last  eighteen  years  that  I 
have  known  this  prison.  Hoping  to  hear  of  your  good  health,  I  am 
ever,  CLARA  COOK. 


OR   A   LABOR  OF   LOVE 


121 


Western  Penitentiary,  Allegheny,  Pa.,  June  7,  1904. 

Mrs.  Wheaton: 

I  am  glad  to  learn  that  you  are  about  to  embody  your  experiences 
as  a  missionary  to  the  inmates  of  the  prisons  and  penitentiaries  of 
the  various  states  in  which  you  have  labored  in  the  name  of  the 
Master.  It  has  been  no  easy  work.  It  has  demanded  much  faith, 
hope  and  charity  on  your  part.  You  have  gone  with  untiring  zeal  to 
those  who  are  despised  and  forsaken  on  account  of  their  criminal 
acts. 

Tn  the  spirit  of  our  blessed  Lord  and  in  obedience  to  His  com- 
mand you  have  gone  year  after  year  to  the  habitations  of  disgrace 


WOMEN  S  PRISON,  ALLEGHENY  CITY,  PA. 

and  sorrow  and  carried  the  cheering  and  helpful  promises  and  the 
forgiving  mercy  of  our  dear  Savior. 

You  will  have  a  rich  reward  from  our  Heavenly  Father.  I  am 
sure  your  words  of  gospel  truth,  and  your  songs  of  praise  have 
often  touched  the  hearts  of  the  female  prisoners  under  my  care. 
The  most  rebellious  and  hardened  have  felt  and  testified  to  the 
gracious  power  of  the  gospel  of  love  as  you  have  uttered  it  here. 


122  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

My  hope  and  my  prayer  is  that  the  Almighty  Shepherd  may  guide, 
keep  and  sustain  you  in  this  noble  work  of  your  life. 

SARAH  J.  ARNER. 
Allegheny,  Pa. 


Allegheny   City,   Pa.,   Dec.   31,   1893. 
Dear  Mrs.  Wheaton: 

I  will  try  and  answer  your  kind  and  welcome  letter  which  came 
to  hand  a  few  days  ago.  \Ve  were  all  very  glad  to  hear  from  you. 
Our  dear  sister,  Mrs.  Jones,  is  dead.  The  dear  old  lady  who 
was  up  to  the  workhouse  with  you  when  you  were  here.  She  was 
a  dear  friend  to  all  the  girls  here,  but  she  has  gone  home.  She 
can  come  to  us  no  more,  but  we  can  go  to  her.  The  last  words 
she  said  when  she  was  here  was  good-bye,  and  that  she  would  meet 
us  all  in  heaven.  We  have  very  nice  meetings  now  and  would  like 
to  have  you  with  us.  We  pray  for  you  every  day  and  we  want 
you  to  pray  for  us  that  we  may  see  the  right  way  and  that  we 
may  go  out  of  here  with  light  hearts  and  go  about  doing  good. 

We  had  a  nice  Christmas.  Our  Warden  treated  us  with  turkey, 
and  we  were  all  so  glad  that  he  was  so  kind  to  us. 

Well,  we  will  begin  a  new  year  tomorrow,  and  I  hope  we  will 
lead  a  different  life,  a  better  life,  for  if  we  believe  in  Jesus  He 
will  save  us;  yes,  He  will  keep  us  through  the  dark  valley.  He 
will  go  with  us  to  the  end,  as  He  has  promised,  if  we  will  put 
our  trust  in  Him.  I  have  gained  a  great  victory  since  you  were 
here.  I  have  forgiven  an  enemy  that  I  thought  I  never  could 
forgive. 

Well,  I  will  close  by  sending  you  my  love,  and  as  I  have  only 
one  sheet  of  paper  my  friend  will  send  this  on  to  you.  I  remain, 

Your  sincere  friend,  LUCY  F. 


Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  Feb.  16,  1896. 
My  Dear  Mrs.  Wheaton: 

[  am  so  glad  to  hear  from  you  once  more.  I  had  been  thinking 
of  you  so  much  of  late  and  I  a§ked  God  to  let  me  hear  from  you 
or  send  you  to  us,  and  so  you  see  He  answered  my  prayer.  I  cannot 
express  how  glad  we  all  were  to  receive  your  kind  and  loving 
letter.  It  was  read  to  all  and  I  do  wish  you  could  have  peeked  in 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  123 

to  see  how  quiet  all  were  to  listen  to  it,  and  our  two  matrons,  too, 
for  they  do  love  you. 

1  was  very  sorry  to  hear  of  your  being  so  sick,  but  God  has 
raised  you  up  for  He  has  work  for  you  to  do  yet.  I  pray  for 
you  every  night  and  morning  that  He  may  strengthen  you  and 
keep  you,  for  you  are  to  us  like  the  rain  is  and  the  sunshine  to  the 
flowers,  for  we  know  that  you  do  love  us  poor  unfortunate  ones. 

"Will  you  please  send  us  the  hymns  called  "Tell  of  the  Un- 
clouded Day"  and  the  one  called  "When  the  Pearly  Gates  Un- 
fold"? Dear  Mother,  pray  for  us  all,  but  pray  for  me  especially, 
for  I  am  in  great  sorrow  and  trials.  Pray  that  God  may  raise 
me  up  friends  and  that  He  may  keep  me. 

Good-bye,  hoping  to  hear  from  you  soon,  I  remain,  yours  in  Christ, 

LAURA  M. 


Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  Feb.  16,  1896. 
My  Dear  Mother: 

I  wish  I  could  tell  you  how  much  joy  and  happiness  your  letter 
gave  me.  It  came  just  at  the  time  when  I  needed  it  most.  I  am 
sick  and  feeble,  suffering  with  spine  and  lung  trouble,  have  not 
been  able  to  work  for  the  last  three  weeks.  Can  go  to  my  meals 
and  wait  upon  myself,  and  I  have  my  Jesus  with  me.  Oh,  how 
He  comforts  and  helps  make  the  rough  places  smooth,  and  in  the 
lonely  hours  of  the  night  when  the  pain  is  almost  beyond  endurance, 
I  think  of  my  Savior  and  what  He  suffered  without  sin,  and  of  what 
a  weak  coward  I  am  to  complain. 

Mother,  we  are  some  of  us  so  impatient  when  we  have  pain,  and 
1  am  afraid  I  am  one  of  those.  Please  pray  for  me  that  I  may 
bear  mine  with  Christian  fortitude. 

1  hope  it  may  please  God  to  let  me  live  to  get  out  of  this  place 
and  have  a  home  for  myself  and  baby,  and  if  my  dear  Mother 
Wheaton  would  come  and  see  me  and  rest  herself  for  a  few  weeks, 
would  it  not  be  nice?  Mother,  I  am  a  widow  with  one  child  and 
some  means,  but  not  much.  Still  I  intend  to  use  some  of  my  money, 
when  I  have  control  of  it,  to  do  good  to  others.  I  have  suffered, 
God  has  opened  my  eyes  and  showed  me  my  sins  and  selfishness  of 
former  years,  and  I  thank  Him  for  sparing  me  to  see  it  in  this 
Jight. 

Many  of  the  girls  that  were  here  when  you  last  visited  us  have 


124  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

gone  out  and  a  good  many  are  going  out  this  year.  Pray  for 
them.  I  pray  for  you  every  night.  God  bless  and  keep  you  is  the 
prayer  of  your  friend, 

L.  E.  T.  No.  9722. 


Allegheny  City,  Pa.,   Feb.   16,   1896. 
My  Dear   Mother  Wheaton: 

Your  very  welcome  and  unexpected  letter  received.  It  is  im- 
possible to  tell  you  with  what  joy  and  heartfelt  gladness  we  all 
gathered  together  to  hear  it  read.  You  do  not  know  how  often 
your  children  speak  together  of  you,  of  where  you  are  and  what 
you  are  doing  and  what  keeps  you  so  long  away  from  your  Western 
flock.  It  was  so  long  since  last  we  heard  from  you  that  we  are 
beginning  to  think  our  Heavenly  Father  had  need  of  you  and 
had  taken  you  home,  but  all  praise  to  His  name.  He  has  spared 
you  to  send  us  another  loving,  encouraging  message,  which  we 
promptly  answer  in  love  and  sympathy,  each  one  giving  a  word, 
although  only  three  different  handwritings  will  be  seen.  Kemember 
when  reading  the  words  that  twenty-five  of  your  lone  children  are 
here  represented  in  your  letter. 

You  speak  of  wishing  for  your  prison  children  when  you  were 
sick.  O,  how  gladly  many  of  us  would  minister  to  your  wants, 
to  be  under  the  influence  of  your  kind  and  loving  advice,  following 
in  your  footsteps  of  love  and  life  as  it  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our 
Lord  and  Master.  But  though  we  are  separated  by  so  many  miles, 
thanks  be  to  the  Almighty  we  can  feel  the  influence  of  your  con- 
tinued prayers,  and  many  of  us  are  greatly  encouraged  to  keep 
on  striving,  knowing  that  the  crowning  day  will  come  by  and  by. 

Each  one  says :  ' '  Ask  Mother  Wheaton  when  she  is  coming. ' ' 
Do  not  be  too  long  in  coming,  for  some  of  your  dear  ones  are 
leaving  every  month  during  the  spring,  and  we  are  anxious  to 
receive  your  blessing  before  entering  the  cold,  heartless  world  of 
sin  and  sorrow.  Yet  some  of  us  will  take  Jesus  with  us,  and  in 
Ilis  name  begin  life  again.  Pray  for  us  all  that  our  hearts  may 
be  fully  and  entirely  given  over  to  God,  with  our  hands  in  His 
hand,  be  led  to  the  mercy-seat.  Yes,  dear  Mother,  we  shall,  with 
God 's  help,  ' '  strive  to  enter  in  at  the  straight  gate. ' ' 

These  are  the  names  of  those  who  send  you  special  love  and  re- 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  125 

quests  for  prayer:  Emma  M.,  Emma  W.,  Pearl  S.  (who  is  very 
sick),  Laura  M.,  Anna  M.,  Ella  A. 

With  love  and  best  wishes  from  our  matrons,  we  close,  hoping 
soon  to  see  you. 

Good-bye,  God  bless  and  keep  you  always  and  send  you  to  us 
again.  All  join  in  best  wishes  to  you. 


Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  Feb.   14,   1897. 
My  Dear  Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton: 

Perhaps  you  will  be  surprised  to  get  this  letter,  but  I  have 
heard  so  much  about  you  that  I  feel  as  though  I  was  personally 
acquainted  with  you,  so  I  hope  you  are  well,  dear  Mother,  and 
that  you  are  doing  work  for  the  Master  and  that  He  will  give  you 
a  great  many  souls  for  your  hire. 

O,  I  do  want  to  see  you.  Indeed  I  would  like  to  hear  you  sing 
and  pray.  The  girls  all  want  to  see  and  hear  you.  Pray  for  them. 
One  woman  in  here  said  that  you  were  the  only  person  that  ever 
did  pray  a  prayer  that  touched  her  heart  and  brought  tears  to  her 
eyes.  The  old  girls  talk  about  you  so  much  to  the  new  ones  that 
they  all  love  you,  although  they  have  not  seen  you.  They  tell  over 
and  over  of  your  love  and  sympathy  and  that  you  know  how  to 
reach  poor  unfortunate  souls.  You  know  that  they  need  kind 
words  and  a  loving  smile  to  cheer  up  their  broken  hearts. 

Dear  Mother,  you  know  that  a  smile  goes  where  a  dollar  cannot 
go,  for  it  goes  to  the  heart  and  makes  it  so  very  happy. 

Good-bye,  hoping  to  hear  from  you  soon,  I  remain, 

Yours  truly,  LINA  S. 


Allegheny  City,  Feb.   14,  1897. 
My  Dear  Mrs.  Wheaton — Dear  Mother: 

I  will  say  dear,  for  you  are  dear  to  me.  O,  you  do  not  know 
how  I  have  been  longing  to  see  you  and  once  more  hear  you  sing 
some  of  your  beautiful  hymns.  0!  just  to  hear  you  pray  once  more 
in  this  world.  There  are  only  eighteen  women  of  us  now,  and  when 
you.  were  here  last  time  there  were  thirty-three. 

O,  dear  Mother,  do  make  me  a  special  subject  of  prayer  that 
God  may  keep  me  and  guide  me  in  the  right  way.  I  have  been 
trying  to  lead  a  Christian  life  for  six  years  now.  When  all  earthly 


126  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

friends  have  forsaken  me  Jesus  comes  and  speaks  to  me,  and  He 
alone  comforts  me,  and  I  thank  God  for  a  full  and  free  salvation. 

0  bless  His  holy  name!     Hallelujah  in  the  highest  to  God! 

Our  matron,  Miss  S.  J.  Arner,  sends  you  her  best  regards.  I 
am  very  sorry  to  tell  you  that  Miss  Osborn  was  called  home  by  the 
death  of  her  sister;  pray  for  her  and  for  me,  Laura  M.,  No.  9351, 
that  God  may  spare  my  life  that  I.  may  work  for  the  Master  when 

1  am  a  free  woman.     The  two  Morgan  sisters  send  you  their  love. 
All  of  the  girls  send  love  to  you.     Come  on  a  week  day  and  per- 
haps you  can  get  the  widow 's  mite. 

Good-bye,  I  remain,  yours  in  Christ,  LAURA  M. 

Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  March  21,  1897. 
Dear  Friend: 

1  received  your  very  kind  and  welcome  letter  and  was  very  glad 
to  hear  from  you,  and  dear  Mother  Wheaton,  your  letter  did  me 
good  as  I  sit  and  hear  it  read  to  me.  I  shall  try  to  keep  it,  and  get 
it  read  often  to  me,  as  it  does  comfort  my  broken  heart.  I  am  a 
poor  orphan  girl.  My  mother  died  when  I  was  about  twelve  years 
old,  and  I  have  wandered  on  in  sin  and  I  have  fallen  by  the  wayside. 
Will  you  pray  for  me  that  I  may  come  to  live  just  as  you  do,  my 
true,  strong  friend.  I  do  wish  I  could  see  you  today,  to  hear  you 
pray  and  sing.  All  of  the  girls  wish  to  see  you  and  hope  that 
you  will  come  on  some  clay  through  the  week  so  that  we  can  write 
out  a  money  order  for  you.  Perhaps  it  may  be  only  a  couple  of 
dollars  or  three,  but  it  will  be  like  the  widow's  mite. 

1  remain,  yours  truly,  LINA  S. 

Allegheny,  Pa.,  March   21,   1897. 
Mrs.  E.  B.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Mother:  We  received  your  very  kind  and  welcome  letter. 
O,  we  are  so  glad  that  you  sent  us  a  letter  and  some  tracts.  Mrs. 
S.  J.  Arner,  our  matron,  read  the  letter  in  the  dining-room  to  all 
of  us  and  we  did  enjoy  it  so  much.  Indeed  I  feel  that  I  had  a 
visit  from  a  dear  friend.  I  hope  you  are  well  and  I  pray  for  you 
that  God  may  strengthen  you  in  your  labors.  You  have  done  a 
great  work,  but  God  has  more  for  you  to  do  yet  before  you  shall 
pnss  through  the  pearly  gates  of  Heaven,  for  you  have  cheered 


OR  A   LABOR  OF   LOVE  127 

so  many  broken  hearts.  God  sent  you  to  cheer  those  in  prisons. 
I  was  just  thinking  today,  O,  how  happy  you  will  be  in  the  end 
when  Jesus  shall  say  unto  you:  "Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father, 
inherit  the  Kingdom  prepared  for  you."  And  O,  dear  Mother,  He 
will  say  to  you:  "I  was  in  prison  and  ye  visited  me."  I  am  still 
looking  unto  Jesus.  He  has  been  my  only  friend  for  these  years  in 
prison.  He  keeps  me  day  by  day  and  makes  me  feel  happy  in 
prison.  He  causes  me  to  hear  "songs  in  the  night."  Pray  for  me 
that  God  may  keep  me  and  my  children. 

I  dreamed  that  I  was  sent  to  preach  the  gospel  to  some  poor 
soul  and  I  have  dreamed  it  three  times  over  the  same.  First  time 
I  said,  ' '  No,  I  cannot  do  it, ' '  and  the  Lord  laid  me  on  a  bed  of  sick- 
ness, and  then  I  said,  "Lord,  I  will  go."  I  had  no  rest  by  night 
or  by  day  until  I  consented  to  go. 

All  of  the  girls  join  me  in  love  to  you.  We  hope  that  these  few 
linen  may  find  you  well  and  happy,  for  you  are  always  so  happy 
and  bright.  One  of  the  old  girls  said  that  your  face  has  such  a 
happy  smile  on  it  and  a  light  shines  over  you  while  you  talk  to 
them.  Write  soon.  LAURA  M. 


This  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  by  an  orphan  girl,  a  type 
of  many  other  poor  girls  whose  fates  are  equally  as  sad : 

Spokane  Falls, ,  1889. 

O  if  I  was  only  free,  the  greatest  pleasure  of  my  life  would 
be  to  go  with  you  and  work  for  God.  Your  kindness  has  won  my 
heart.  I  hare  never  had  any  one  to  be  kind  to  me;  I  have  known 
nothing  but  sorrow  all  my  life.  My  past  is  almost  a  blank.  Dear, 
kind  sister,  look  on  me  with  pity — a  friendless,  motherless  girl. 
I  am  alone  in  the  world.  I  was  drawn  into  this  place  through 
cruel  treatment.  I  have  no  money,  and  I  am  helpless.  If  God 
does  not  have  mercy  on  me,  I  do  not  know  what  will  become  of  me. 
If  I  had  only  a  good,  kind  friend  like  you  to  guide  me  through 
life,  I  would  have  been  a  far  better  woman  than  I  am.  If  God 
will  save  me  I  shall  live  in  the  future  a  life  of  honor  and  work 
for  God. 

Pray  for  me.  Tell  me  in  what  way  I  am  going  to  help  myself. 
O  sister,  I  am  so  troubled;  sometimes  I  think  I  will  end  my 
miserable  existence.  But  I  know  if  I  should  take  my  own  life  that 


128  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

it  \vould  be  a  terrible  sin;  but  how  can  I  help  thinking  such  things 
in  a  place  like  this?  No  friends,  no  home,  and  no  money;  sick 
at  heart,  sick  in  body,  sick  in  mind. 


Lancaster,   Neb.,   Jan.   27,    1895. 
Mrs.  E.  E.  Wheaton,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Our  Dear  Friend:  We  received  your  kind  letter  of  the  7th 
inst.  We  were  glad  to  hear  from  you  and  to  know  that  you  were 
enjoying  good  health.  Dear  Mother,  if  we  may  address  you  thus, 
we  were  very  glad  to  hear  our  friend,  Mrs.  Beemer,  spoken  of  so 
well,  for  she  is  a  friend  never  to  be  forgotten.  And  Mr.  Beemer 
is  just  a  splendid  warden,  kind  to  everybody;  and  we  ask  you  to 
pray  that  they  may  be  retained  here  for  another  time.  Dear 
Mother,  indeed  we  will  know  how  to  appreciate  our  freedom  in 
the  future.  Of  course  you  do  not  know  our  names,  but  I  will 
give  them  in  the  following  words  that  each  sends  to  you.  Hattie 
and  Edna  send  their  regards  to  you.  Nannie  says  to  pray  for  her. 
Annie  sends  her  best  regards  to  you  and  wishes  you  well.  Hattie 
B.  sends  love  and  best  wishes.  Annie  H.  is  the  one  who  was  sick 
when  you  were  here  and  sends  love  to  you,  and  knows  that  God 
answered  your  prayers  that  she  might  be  restored  to  health.  Effie 
joins  in  sending  love,  and  my  prayer  is  that  God  may  bless  you 
and  help  you  in  all  your  good  work.  So  we  close  for  this  time, 
asking  you  to  pray  for  us  poor  unfortunate  girls. 

We  remain,  your  loving  children, 

H.,  E.,  A.,  N.,  H.,  A.  and  EFFIE. 


Canon  City,  March  27,  1899. 
Dear  Friend  and  Mother: 

I  know  you  are  my  friend  and  everybody's  friend.  I  heard 
your  kind  letter  and  cannot  help  writing  to  you.  I  cannot  write 
very  good,  so  please  excuse  mistakes.  Your  letter  found  all  the 
girls  well.  I  have  often  thought  of  you  and  .  wished  that  I  could 
be  a  Christian  like  you;  but  I  am  a  poor  sinner  and  have  been 
all  my  life.  I  never  heard  one  word  out  of  the  Bible  in  my  life 
till  I  got  in  jail.  I  never  had  any  Christian  parents,  and  there- 
fore I  am  a  deep  sinner,  but  I  want  to  do  better.  My  conscience 
tells  me  that  I  must  try  to  be  a  better  woman.  I  have  been  a 
very  bad  girl,  but  I  think  my  Savior  will  forgive  me,  if  I  repent 


OR   A   LABOR  OF   LOVE  I2Q 

in  time.  Sometimes  I  nearly  go  crazy  just  thinking  what  a  life 
T  have  led.  0  if  I  would  die  now  what  would  become  of  me  I  I 
want  you  to  pray  for  me,  mother,  for  I  do  believe  you  can  help 
me  by  praying  for  me. 

I  have  not  long  in  here  now.  My  time  expires  on  the  25th  day  of 
December,  1899;  pray  that  I  will  be  a  better  girl.  I  want  to  go 
home  to  my  brother  if  I  can  when  I  leave  here.  I  am  tired  of  this 
life.  My  soul  is  tired.  O,  I  am  so  wicked!  I  have  tried  to  pray 
the  best  I  knew  and  1  got  scared.  Something  seemed  to  bother  me, 
and  I  was  afraid  to  go  to  sleep.  Mother,  why  do  I  get  scared? 
Is  it  because  I  have  sinned  so  much?  But  I  will  try  again  and 
again.  I  am  willing  to  do  right  and  live  an  honest  life,  and  I 
will  or  die  in  the  attempt.  I  have  had  a  lot  of  trouble  in  my  life 
and  it  drove  me  to  all  my  downfalls,  but  I  can  see  that  I  am  sending 
my  soul  to  everlasting  torment,  so  I  want  to  turn  now  and  seek 
for  the  Lord.  Tell  me  how  I  can,  mother  r 

Mother,  this  is  the  best  I  can  do;  may  God  bless  you  in  all  your 
undertakings.  The  matron  was  glad  to  hear  from  you  and  also  the 
girls.  Pray  for  me.  ANNA  4309. 


Waupun,  Wis.,  March  6,  1899. 
Dear  Sister  Wheaton: 

Thank  God  I  received  your  kind  and  Christian  letter  last  week. 
We  are  getting  along  nicely  with  our  meetings  and  I  know  and 
feel  that  God  is  with  us  every  day  and  especially  the  eleven  that 
have  given  their  hearts  to  God  and  let  His  dear  hand  guide  their 
every  footstep. 

Our  dear  Matron  gave  me  your  letter.  I  am  as  contented  as  can 
be.  I  believe  it  God's  will  that  I  should  be  here,  and  His  will  be 
done.  I  love  our  dear  Heavenly  Father  with  all  my  heart  and 
soul  and  I  love  all  my  sisters  and  brothers  and  I  love  my  enemies 
and  I  pray  for  them  and  ask  God  to  bless  them. 

I  have  ten  months  more  and  I  hope  you  can  come  here  again 
before  I  go.  Our  Matron  is  with  us  in  our  meetings  every  Satur- 
day. I  read  my  Bible  and  pray  three  times  a  day,  and  I  have 
more  strength  to  perform  my  daily  work,  and  I  know  our  dear 
Savior  will  not  forsake  me  or  leave  me  alone  because  I  know  Jesus 
loves  me  now,  and  I  know  He  will  answer  my  prayers. 

I  told  you  before  it  is  my  second  term,  but  when  I  sit  in  my 


I3O  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

little  room  reading  my  Bible  I  thank  God  for  it,  for  I  know  it 
was  God's  will  that  I  should  be  here  a  second  time,  for  there  is 
work  for  me  to  do  here  as  well  as  when  I  am  free,  and  He  put 
me  here  to  show  me  He  wanted  me  for  one  of  His  own  dear  humble 
children  and  I  know  and  feel  it  now. 

"Happy  day,  happy  day, 
When  Jesus  washed  my  sins  away ; 
He   taught   me   how   to   watch  and  pray, 
And  live  rejoicing  every  day." 

And  I  want  you  to  pray  for  us  all  that  we  may  have  more  of  God's 
grace  given  to  us  day  by  day  and  help  us  to  be  humble  and  meek 
and  willing  to  be  led  by  His  loving  hand  and  pray  for  us  that  God 
will  keep  us  from  all  temptation  and  sin  and  may  we  ever  prove 
faithful.  "Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  God,  according  unto  the  multi- 
tude of  Thy  tender  mercies.  Blot  out  my  transgressions."  Every 
word  here  is  just  as  I  feel  in  my  heart. 

"I  may  not  do  much  with  all  my  care, 

But  I  surely  may  bless  a  few  ; 
The  loving  Jesus  will  give  to  me 

Some  work  of  love  to  do. 

"I  may  wipe  the  tears  from  some  weeping  eyes, 

I  may  make  the  smile  come  again, 
To  a  face  that  is  weary  and  worn  with  care, 

To  a  heart  that  is  full  of  pain." 

MRS.   J.   G. 


Anamosa,  Iowa,  Aug.  11,  1901. 
Elizabeth  E.  Wheaton, 

Tabor,  Iowa. 
Dear  Mother: 

"We  received  your  kind  and  loving  letter  yesterday.  Was  more 
than  glad  to  hear  from  you,  but  sorry  that  you  have  been  so  sick; 
but  I  praise  God  for  His  healing  divine.  We  did  not  have  the 
smallpox  in  the  prison.  There  were  cases  of  them  in  town,  but  the 
warden  quarantined  the  prison  and  vaccinated  every  prisoner.  Dear 
mother,  I  am  trying  to  get  a  parole.  My  petition  is  now  before 
the  Governor  with  a  thousand  signers,  besides  several  letters  from 
friends.  I  have  had  three  good  homes  offered  to  me  if  the  Governor 
will  only  parole  me.  I  desire  so  much  to  be  where  I  can  live  a 
better  life  and  take  care  of  my  little  boy  and  help  my  parents,  who 
are  in  very  poor  health.  I  do  pray  so  much  for  a  better  place 


OR   A   LABOR   OF   LOVE  13! 

and  better  companions,  where  I  can  do  something  for  my  own  and 
others.  Dear  Mother,  will  you  pray  for  me?  I  always  remember 
what  I  promised  you  when  you  bid  me  good-bye;  that  was,  to  pray 
for  you  every  day.  I  am  so  glad  we  have  a  Savior  who  will  hear 
our  prayers  though  we  are  behind  prison  walls  and  our  prayers  are 
weak. 

With  love  and  prayers, 

FROM  D.  F.  TO  MOTHER  WHEATON. 


Anamosa,  Iowa,  Oct.  6,  1903. 
Dear   Mother  Wheaton: 

I  thought  I  would  write  you  a  few  lines.  We  are  all  well  at  pres- 
ent. We  cannot  express  how  thankful  w-e  were  for  your  visit  to  us. 
We  only  wish  you  could  have  staid  longer.  Mrs.  Waterman  has 
prayer  and  song  service  every  morning.  It  is  something  wonderful. 
We  all  wish  so  much  to  hear  your  voice.  Mrs.  Waterman  spoke  to 
us  about  writing  to  you  and  I  was  only  too  glad  to  write  and  ask 
you  to  pray  for  us  all.  I  believe  and  know  it  will  do  good.  I  am 
trying  very  hard  to  pray  and  be  a  good  Christian.  I  will  ask  you 
to  pray  for  me.  Respectfully  yours, 

G.  Me. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
Incidents  in  My  Prison  Work. 

LETTER   FROM   THE   PRISONERS   AT    CHESTER,   ILL. 

Southern  Illinois  Penitentiary, 

Menard,  111.,  Nov.  27,  1902. 
Dear  Mother: 

We  are  writing  you  from  within  these  dark  grim  walls.  Although 
we  are  condemned  as  the  outcasts  of  society  and  separated  from 
friends  and  loved  ones  and  continually  laboring  under  great  mental 
strain  and  worry,  still  there  is  no  pain  or  sorrow  great  enough  to 
destroy  our  happiness  in  our  thoughts  of  you.  Your  love  and 
thoughtfulness  for  us  and  our  spiritual  welfare  is  a  priceless  jewel 
that  all  the  wealth  of  the  world  cannot  buy  nor  sorrow  rob  us  of. 
No,  never.  Although  the  world  has  condemned  and  despised  us, 
but  we  know  that  there  is  one — if  only  one — that  loves  even  the 
outcasts. 

Several  of  your  boys  have  gone  from  here  since  you  were  among 
us.  Some  have  crossed  to  the  beyond;  others  to  blessed  freedom. 
Still  a  greater  number  are  left  here  with  fondest  recollections  of  all 
you  have  done  for  us,  which  is  one  of  the  greatest  among  our  causes 
for  thanksgiving.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say,  Remember  us.  We 
all  remain  your  sons  until  death. 

YOUR  BOYS  OF  CHESTER,  ILLINOIS. 
An  extract  from  a  report  of  the  Chaplain  of  the  Southern 

Illinois  Penitentiary  will  be  of  interest: 

Chester,  111. 

To  the  Honorable  Board  of  Commissioners, 

Chester,  111. 
Gentlemen  : 

I  take  pleasure  in  making  a  report  of  my  first  year's  work  as 
Chaplain. 

The  regular  chapel  services  have  been  held  every  Sunday  at  9:40 
a.  m.  The  chapel  has  been  well  filled  at  all  regular  services  and 
crowded  on  special  occasions.  The  attendance  at  religious  services 
is  voluntary,  but  most  prisoners  consider  it  a  privilege  to  attend. 


136  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

The  words  of  encouragement  I  have  received  from  prisoners  in 
conversation  and  by  letter  make  me  feel  that  good  is  being  accom- 
plished. More  than  one  hundred  men  hare  given  me  their  names  as 
Christians  or  seekers  of  religion. 

I  attend  all  calls  made  by  the  prisoners  during  the  week  and  visit 
one  cell  house  each  Sunday  evening. 

My  visits  are  so  planned  that  I  see  each  prisoner  in  his  cell  at 
least  twice  a  month  and  give  him  a  chance  to  make  his  requests 
known. 

The  men  have  been  urged  to  study  the  Bible  and  have  been  fur- 
nished tracts  and  other  helps  in  Bible  study.  I  have  been  aston- 
ished in  making  my  rounds  to  find  so  many  men  reading  the  Bible. 
One  hundred  and  fifty  new  Bibles  have  been  purchased  during  the 
year.  Six  hundred  Sunday-school  quarterlies  have  been  furnished  the 
prisoners  each  quarter  during  the  year  and  they  have  been  urged 
to  keep  in  touch  with  the  outside  world  by  studying  these  lessons. 
The  Sunday-school  lesson  is  read  every  Sunday  as  a  scripture  lesson 
and  comments  are  made  upon  it. 

The  sick  in  the  hospital  and  the  shut-in  prisoners  in  the  cell 
houses  are  visited  daily  and  are  supplied  with  books  and  papers. 
Some  of  them  read  a  book  each  day. 

The  Murphy  Temperance  Pledge  has  been  furnished  and  more  than 
five  hundred  prisoners  have  signed  the  pledge.  If  the  saloons  could 
be  closed  out  poor-houses,  jails  and  prisons  would  soon  be  almost 
empty.  Eespectfully  submitted, 

W.  N.  KUTLEDGE,  Chaplain. 

SUICIDE    OF    A    PRISONER. 

While  on  my  way  to  the  State  Prison  at  Chester,  Illinois, 
in  the  year  1888  (if  I  remember  rightly)  I  was  especially 
impressed  by  the  sad  appearance  of  a  fellow-passenger,  a 
mother,  accompanied  by  three  children.  I  was  sure  that 
she  was  in  deep  trouble.  I  said  to  my  helper,  "Mary,  that 
woman  is  going  to  the  Penitentiary."  She  said,  "How  do 
you  know?"  I  answered,  "I  feel  sure  of  it  and  I  will  con- 
vince you  that  I  am  right." 

Having  entered  into  conversation  with  the  woman,  I  as- 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  137 

sisted  her  as  I  found  opportunity  in  caring  for  her  children. 
When  I  asked  her  where  she  was  going,  she  said,  "I  am  go- 
ing to  Chester."  I  said,  "I,  too,  am  going  to  Chester  and 
will  gladly  assist  you  in  getting  off  with  the  children." 

At  the  station  we  parted,  but  the  next  morning,  which 
was  the  Sabbath,  as  I  passed  through  the  guard-room  of  the 
State  Prison  I  saw  this  woman  talking  to  her  husband,  who 
was  a  prisoner.  She  sat  beside  him  and  he  was  holding  one 
of  the  children  and  she  had  another  in  her  arms.  The  third 
was  playing  near  by.  All  were  too  young  to  know  of  the 
sorrow  that  had  come  to  their  home,  or  the  shame  that  had 
fallen  upon  them.  They  were  with  papa  and  mamma  and 
felt  safe  and  happy.  Alas!  how  little  they  knew  how  soon 
they  were  to  be  left  fatherless ! 

I  passed  on  and  was  busy  during  the  entire  day  for  I 
had  the  liberty  of  the  prison  and  the  privilege  of  working 
among  the  prisoners.  So  busy  was  I  that  for  the  time  be- 
ing I  had  lost  sight  of  that  poor  wife  and  mother,  but  only 
the  next  morning  the  Chaplain  called  for  me  and  said,  "Sis- 
ter Wheaton,  I  have  oh,  such  a  sad  task  before  me  this 
morning !  I  wish  you  would  do  it  for  me."  I  said,  "Chap- 
lain, I  will  try.  I  am  willing  to  do  anything  that  I  can  to 
help  you."  And  then  he  said,  "Do  you  remember  the  man 
and  woman  you  saw  yesterday  in  the  guard-room  talking?" 
I  said,  "Yes;  I  remember  them  well;  I  met  the  woman  on 
the  train  on  my  way  here."  He  replied,  "Well,  that  man 
was  so  heart-broken  at  the  thought  of  parting  with  his  wife 
and  children  that  he  asked  her  to  promise  him  that  if  he 
should  die  in  the  prison  she  would  have  him  brought  home 
for  burial.  She  promised  him  she  would  do  so  and  last 
night  that  poor  man  committed  suicide  in  his  cell  and  now 
someone  must  go  and  tell  that  woman  of  her  husband's 


138  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

death."  I  said,  "Chaplain,  that  is  a  hard  thing  to  do,  but  I 
will  try."  He  said,  "I  wish  you  would, — being  a  woman 
you  can  comfort  her  better  than  I  could."  Well,  I  went 
along  the  hall  until  I  came  to  the  door  of  the  room  she  oc- 
cupied, for,  she  too,  as  well  as  myself,  was  a  guest  of  the 
kind  warden's  wife.  I  opened  the  door  softly  and  looked 
in.  In  memory  I  can  see  her  yet  as  she  sat  with  one  child 
in  her  lap  while  the  other  two  little  ones  were  playing 
around  her  knee.  She  was  softly  singing  some  old  country 
tune.  As  I  looked  my  heart  failed  me.  I  turned  away  in 
sorrow  and  returned  to  the  Chaplain  and  said,  "Chaplain,  I 
cannot  do  it.  I  cannot  break  that  poor  woman's  heart.  I 
just  can't  tell  her,"  and  he  said,  "Then  I  will  have  to  do  it. 
Someone  must  tell  her,"  and  so  he  broke  the  message  as 
best  he  could.  Never  will  I  forget  the  anguish  of  that  poor 
woman's  heart  as  she  wept  out  her  grief  and  suffering!  I 
tried  to  comfort  her  as  best  I  could.  I  took  the  same  train 
with  her  as  she  started  for  home  with  her  husband's  body 
in  the  baggage  coach  ahead.  As  best  I  could  I  ministered 
to  her  and  those  poor  helpless  children  as  long  as  our  jour- 
ney carried  us  over  the  same  road  and  when  I  changed 
cars  I  tried  to  utter  some  words  of  comfort,  but  oh,  friends, 
what  could  I  say,  what  could  I  do?  Only  the  sympathy  of 
the  loving  Savior  could  reach  her  case  and  I  left  her,  never 
to  meet  her  again  on  this  side,  but  oh,  may  we  not  hope  that 
in  some  way  God  found  a  way  to  have  mercy  upon  that 
poor,  misjudged  man  and  that  those  loved  ones  may  meet 
again  where  no  mistakes  will  be  made  by  judge  or  jury? 
For  many  believed  that  poor  man  to  be  innocent  of  the 
crime  with  which  he  was  charged.  If  I  remember  rightly  a 
barn  had  been  burned  and  he  had  been  accused  of  setting 
it  on  fire  and  had  been  convicted  through  purely  circumstan- 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  139 

tial  evidence.  Brokenhearted  over  his  disgrace  and  the 
thought  of  again  being  separated  from  wife  and  children, 
the  poor  man  made  a  rope  of  the  bed-clothing  in  his  cell 
and  used  it  to  take  his  own  life. 

"l   HAVE   NO   FRIENDS/' 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1903,  I  was  in  the  Ohio  Penitentiary 
at  Columbus.  Officers  and  chaplain  were  kind,  as  usual. 
After  holding  services  in  the  hospital,  I  held  service  with 
the  men  under  death  sentence;  then  went  to  the  prison- 
yard  where  all  the  others  were  having  a  holiday.  There  the 
Chaplain  assisted  Sister  Taylor  and  myself  to  hold  services 
in  the  open  air.  Many  seemed  glad  to  get  the  message  of 
love  in  song  and  prayer  and  preaching  and  many  came  to 
shake  hands  with  us,  while  singing  the  closing  hymn. 

One  poor  old  man,  a  foreigner,  handed  me  a  little  pack- 
age about  as  large  as  a  walnut.  The  paper  was  soiled  from 
contact  with  his  hand  that  warm  day.  The  poor  man  in 
tears  said,  "Good-bye,"  and  I  forgot  all  about  the  little 
package  till  on  the  train  that  night  going  east,  where  I 
found  it  in  my  pocket  and  found  inside  a  silk  handkerchief 
and  a  25  cent  silver  piece.  On  the  paper  was  written  his 
name  and  number  and  these  words,  "I  have  no  friends." 
I  wept  over  that  smell-  token  of  love  as  I  do  not  often  weep 
over  a  gift.  I  have  that  little  handkerchief  safe.  It  seems 
sacred  to  me.  How  I  felt  repaid  for  my  hard  day's  toil. 

That  night  while  I  was  holding  services  on  the  train  the 
conductor  said,  "Mother,  I  don't  see  how  you  stand  so  much 
hardship;"  I  said,  "Conductor,  I  had  even  forgotten  that  I 
had  had  neither  dinner  or  supper  today." 

I  think  I  know  something  of  what  Jesus  meant  when  He 
said  to  His  disciples  after  ministering  to  a  needy  soul,  "I 
have  meat  to  eat  that  ye  know  not  of." 


I4O  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

Chaplain  Starr  in  one  of  the  following  letters  refers  to  the 
open  air  service  on  July  4th ;  also  to  some  of  the  men  under 
death  sentence  with  whom  I  had  labored.  The  Indian 
woman  to  whose  death  and  burial  he  refers  is  the  same 
one  who  is  mentioned  in  the  letters  of  W.  H.  M.  in  an- 
other place. 

Columbus,  Ohio,  July  11,  1903. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  E.  Wheaton. 

My  Dear  Sister:  Your  letter  received  this  morning  was  a  very 
pleasant  surprise.  We  have  now  an  additional  man  in  the  Annex. 
There  are  three  men  sentenced  to  electrocution  in  September  and 
October.  What  change  may  come  we  do  not  know.  I  gave  them  your 
letter;  they  will  read  it  over  by  themselves,  and  the  tracts  also. 
They  still  say  that  your  visit  with  them  on  the  Fourth  of  July  did 
them  much  good.  I  have  also  delivered  your  letter  to  D.,  and  with 
it  a  letter  from  myself,  giving  him  encouragement  and  offering 
to  render  him  any  friendly  assistance.  The  old  Indian  woman, 
Elsie  J.,  whom  I  think  you  have  several  times  seen  in  the  female 
prison,  died  on  the  9th,  and  we  gave  her  a  Christian  burial  yester- 
day. She  was  converted  and  baptized  some  time  ago.  I  am  glad 
that  you  are  preserved  and  sustained  in  your  great  work  as  prison 
evangelist.  If  D.,  and  N.,  and  W.  write  to  you  I  will  forward  the 
letters  to  your  address.  With  kind  wishes  and  regards,  I  am, 
Your  brother, 

D.  J.  STARR,  Chaplain,  O.  P. 

Your  talk  in  the  yard  on  the  Fourth  of  July  did  good. 

Columbus,  Ohio,  Sept.   26,  1903. 

Dear  Sister:  Your  recent  postal  came  duly  to  hand.  I  received 
your  letter  in  July  from  the  South  and  wrote  you  a  reply,  but  have 
kept  it  until  the  present  time,  not  knowing  where  to  mail  it  so  it 
weald  reach  you.  I  will  now  send  it  in  this  letter,  so  that  you  will 
see  that  I  have  not  forgotten  you  and  answered  your  letter  at  the 
time.  You  inquire  concerning  the  men  in  the  Annex;  we  have  now 
six  men  in  the  Annex.  One  of  them  has  been  granted  a  new  trial 
aod  seme  others  are  expecting  to  get  new  trials.  They  do  not  take 
any  great  interest  in  religion,  but  yet  they  read  the  Bible  some  and 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  14! 

talk  about  it.     1  will  tell  them  of  your  interest  in  them  and  assure 
them  that  they  are  not  forgotten  in  your  prayers. 
Sincerely  yours, 

D.  J.  STARE,  Chaplain,  O.  P. 

Ohio  Penitentiary,  Feb.  22,   1904. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  E.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Sister:  I  have  just  received  your  letter  from  Washington, 
D.  C.,  inquiring  about  the  men  in  our  prison  death  cell. 

There  are  ten  there  now  and  two  have  been  taken  out  for  new 
trials.  If  these  are  sent  back  we  shall  have  twelve.  The  largest 
number,  until  this  list,  ever  in  the  Annex  was  nine. 

Murders,  as  well  as  other  crimes  of  violence  to  person  and  prop- 
erty, are  on  the  increase  and  society  is  trying  to  protect  its  life — 
without  much  security,  so  far. 

Perhaps  three  of  the  men  are  Scripturally  penitent,  three  others 
interested  and  four  indifferent  to  religion — so  far  as  we  can  see. 
The  men  have  Bibles,  religious  song  books  and  papers,  library  books 
and  religious  letters  from  relatives.  They  are  not  allowed  to  corre- 
spond without  especially  good  reasons  for  permits  to  do  so.  I  hold 
a  little  meeting  and  Bible  study  with  those  who  care  for  it  almost 
daily  at  2  p.  m.,  at  which  time  you  might  help  us  with  your  pray- 
ers. 

Sentiment  is  not  salvation.  The  trouble,  both  in  the  prison  and 
out  of  it,  is,  men  will  not  seek  after  God.  Yes,  I  am  busy  and 
ought  to  be  busy  about  my  Master's  business,  and  so  are  you. 

With  best  wishes,  I  am, 

Respectfully  yours, 

D.  J.  STARR,  Chaplain. 

WAY   OPENED   IN   ANSWER   TO  PRAYER. 

I  had  for  many  years  prayed  for  an  opportunity  to 
preach  in  one  of  the  largest  state  prisons.  Again  and  again 
I  had  been  refused  by  both  the  warden  and  chaplain.  But 
at  last  through  a  new  governor  of  the  state  I  was  permitted 
to  enter  this  prison  for  religious  services. 

Calling  at  the  office  of  the  governor  and  asking  permis- 


142  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

sion  to  go  to  the  prison  and  assist  in  the  services,  he  said, 
"Certainly,  we  shall  be  glad  to  have  you.  There  will  be  no 
difficulty,  as  we  have  new  officers.  You  can  preach  in  the 
prison.1'  Before  I  had  left  the  Governor's  private  office  the 
warden  of  the  prison  being  present  spoke  and  said,  "Cer- 
tainly, they  would  be  very  glad  to  have  you  take  part  with 
them."  I  asked  if  I  should  not  see  the  chaplain,  but  the 
warden  said  he  would  be  all  right,  and  be  pleased.  But  I 
insisted  that  it  was  only  courtesy  to  see  the  chaplain.  And 
asking  the  governor  to  please  write  a  note  to  him,  he  did  so 
and  remarked  that  the  state  carriage  was  waiting  at  the 
door  and  I  should  be  driven  to  the  chaplain's  house. 

Arriving  at  his  home  I  was  met  by  his  little  daughter  who 
carried  my  card  to  her  father  and  he  soon  came  into  the 
room  asking  what  I  wanted.  "I  should  like,  if  you  please, 
to  take  part  with  you  in  the  services  at  the  prison  chapel 
tomorrow  (Sunday)  as  I  have  been  some  years  in  prison 
work,"  I  replied.  "No  indeed,"  he  answered,  "I  cannot  al- 
low a  woman  to  speak  in  my  meetings.  I  will  never  per- 
mit any  woman  to  take  my  pulpit."  I  made  no  reply,  but 
that  the  state  carriage  was  waiting  for  me  and  I  must  go, 
but  said  to  him,  "Here  is  a  letter  from  the  governor.  Will 
you  kindly  look  at  it  before  I  leave?"  He  took  the  message 
and  noting  its  contents  he  changed  color  and  seemed  con- 
fused ;  saying,  "I  never  did  allow  a  woman  to  speak  in  my 
meetings.  But  seeing  the  governor's  request  and  your 
years  of  experience,  I  will  allow  you  to  come  in  the  morn- 
ing and  conduct  the  women's  meetings."  The  governor's  let- 
ter read  as  follows : 

Executive  Department,  Oct.  24,  1891. 
Dr.  O.  W.  G., 

Chaplain  of  Penitentiary. 
Dear  Sir: 

The  bearer,  Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton,  is  a  prison  evangelist  of  national 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  143 

reputation  and  experience,  who  brings  letters  of  strong  recommenda- 
tion from  wardens  of  the  prisons  she  has  visited,  and  I  commend 
her  to  your  kind  consideration.  She  has  expressed  a  willingness,  if 
not  a  desire,  to  participate  in  your  services  tomorrow  afternoon  in 
the  chapel  and  I  trust  you  will  afford  her  every  facility  for  so  do- 
ing. Respectfully, 

DAVID  R.  FRANCES. 

A    WOMAN    CONVERTED   AND    HEALED. 

I  went  praying  for  an  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
While  I  was  speaking  I  was  impressed  to  step  down  the 
aisle  and  lay  my  hand  upon  the  head  of  a  vicious  looking 
colored  woman.  I  afterward  learned  that  she  was  a  life 
time  prisoner  and  a  very  dangerous  woman.  Instantly  the 
power  of  God  fell  upon  her  and  she  was  wonderfully  con- 
verted then  and  there,  and  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  is 
still  true  to  God.  The  other  women  seeing  this,  their  leader 
in  sin  (for  so  she  was)  so  changed,  were  subdued  and  con- 
victed of  their  sins.  The  meeting  closed  with  victory  for 
God.  The  chaplain  was  convinced  and  said,  "You  have 
won  the  worst  woman  in  the  prison.  You  have  the  hearts 
of  all  the  prisoners  now,  for  her  influence  is  great.  You 
come  and  preach  to  the  men  this  afternoon.  I  am  con- 
vinced." Years  have  come  and  gone.  Governors,  wardens 
and  chaplains  have  been  changed ;  but  God  does  not  change, 
and  the  doors  of  that  prison  are  still  open  to  me,  and  God 
always  blesses  every  service. 

Some  years  later  upon  visiting  this  prison  again  we  found 
this  poor  colored  woman  much  afflicted  and  walking  on 
crutches.  The  sister  with  me  and  I  prayed  for  her,  and 
she  was  instantly  healed,  throwing  her  crutches  aside  at 
once.  The  matron  then  gave  her  the  key  to  go  down  and 
unlock  the  outside  door  for  us,  having  so  much  confidence 
in  her.  She  received  a  pardon  from  the  governor  later. 


144  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

Another  woman  in  the  same  prison  was  also  prayed  for 
and  was  instantly  healed  by  the  Lord,  of  a  large  tumor, 
and  ran  and  praised  God  for  what  He  had  done  for  her. 

A   CHANGE   WROUGHT. 

For  some  years  another  prison  was  closed  to  me.  Why,  I 
never  knew.  I  prayed  that  the  doors  of  that  prison  might 
be  opened  to  me.  When  the  Lord  sent  me  back  there  I 
found  such  a  change  as  I  had  never  before  witnessed  in  the 
same  length  of  time.  There  was  a  good  Christian  chaplain, 
one  of  the  best  of  wardens,  and  good  deputies.  Every  pris- 
oner was  in  an  improved  state  of  mind  and  morals,  and  all 
in  harmony  and  glad  to  obey  the  rules  of  the  prison.  I  was 
treated  with  courtesy  and  kindness,  and  was  given  all  the 
time  in  the  services,  and  was  entertained.  When  I  left  I 
was  conveyed  to  the 'depot  with  ladies  as  escorts,  and  a 
"trusty"  as  driver.  Such  are  the  wonderful  workings  of 
God  through  faith  and  prayer.  The  meetings  in  this  state 
prison  were  owned  and  blessed  of  the  Lord.  The  Holy 
Spirit  led  and  all  seemed  to  enjoy  and  appreciate  them.  The 
chaplain  said,  ''How  much  good  was  accomplished!"  All 
were  united  in  harmony  and  God  was  glorified. 

A   CHAPLAIN    IN    MY  AUDIENCE. 

At  another  time,  arriving  at  a  certain  city  where  there 
was  a  state's  prison,  I  met  in  the  depot  a  young  lady  wear- 
ing a  Salvation  Army  bonnet.  She  was  crying  at  not  be- 
ing met  by  friends  as  she  had  expected,  and  I  asked  her  to 
go  with  me.  She  gladly  did  so  and  J[  proceeded  to  the 
prison  to  ask  permission  to  hold  services  for  the  prisoners 
on  the  next  day  which  would  be  the  Sabbath.  Obtaining 
the  consent  of  the  chaplain  I  waited  till  the  time  for  the 
service  on  Sabbath  morning  and  returned.  The  guard  re- 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  145 

fusing  to  admit  me,  I  sent  for  the  chaplain.  When  he 
came  he  also  refused  me,  saying  he  could  not  permit  me  to 
hold  the  service,  as  he  thought  I  belonged  to  the  Salvation 
Army.  A  friend  suggested  that  I  should  go  to  the  Governor 
at  his  residence,  saying  that  he  was  a  kind  man.  I  did 
so,  and  was  very  kindly  received.  Having  listened  to  my 
request  he  said,  "Yes,  you  may  have  your  meeting  in  the 
prison," — he  having  heard  of  my  work  before.  He  wrote 
a  card  for  me  to  carry  with  me,  and  I  took  it  and  returned 
to  the  prison.  The  preacher  and  the  Sisters  of 'Charity  had 
all  gone  to  the  women's  department.  The  men  were  out  in 
the  large  yard.  !  called,  "Boys,  come  on,  we  are  going  to 
have  a  meeting."  How  they  hurried  pell  mell  to  the  chapel ! 
And  such  a  meeting!  The  power  of  God  fell.  Just  then 
the  chaplain  entered,  much  surprised  of  course,  and  I  said, 
"Chaplain,  I  am  permitted  through  the  kindness  of  the  Gov- 
ernor to  hold  this  service.  Will  you  please  be  seated?" 
Had  a  most  glorious  meeting,  closing  with  results  alto- 
gether satisfactory  to  the  chaplain. 

IMPRESSED   TO   TARRY. 

While  holding  a  meeting  in  a  certain  city,  I  was  impressed 
day  after  day  to  tarry.  I  did  not  know  why.  I  wanted  to. 
go,  but  still  the  Lord  impressed  me  to  wait.  One  evening 
a  cry  was  heard,  "A  man  is  shot."  Immediately  the  Spirit 
impressed  me,  "That  is  what  I  detained  you  here  for."  I 
rushed  out  into  the  night,  and  inquired  where  the  man  had 
been  carried.  They  told  me  to  the  hotel.  I  went  imme- 
diately, got  admittance  to  his  room  and  found  him  in  a  dy- 
ing condition,  with  no  one  that  knew  God  to  pray  for  him. 
And  there  by  the  bedside  of  the  dying  man,  some  mother's 
boy, — dying  without  God  and  without  hope  in  the  world, — I 
tried  to  point  him  to  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away 


146  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

the  sin  of  the  world,  hoping  that  the  Lord  would  give  him 
a  chance  at  the  eleventh  hour  to  seek  salvation,  and  I  believe 
God  heard  my  prayer  for  this  soul. 

ENCOURAGEMENT  BY  THE  WAY. 

In  the  Pacific  Garden  Mission  in  Chicago  one  night,  after 
addressing  the  audience  and  singing  the  Gospel  to  the  peo- 
ple, I  gave  an  invitation  to  all  who  desired  to  lead  a  new 
life  and  serve  the  Lord  to  come  forward  and  publicly  con- 
fess Christ  and  repent  of  their  sins.  Instantly  a  fine  looking 
young  man  rose  in  the  rear  of  the  hall,  hurried  to  the  front 
and  grasped  my  hand,  saying  that  he  saw  me  three  weeks 
before  in  the  Deer  Lodge,  Montana,  State  Prison.  He  said 
that  three  days  before,  he  was  released  and  had  come  to 
Chicago,  and  passing  along  the  street  he  heard  me  singing 
a  favorite  hymn  at  the  open  air  meeting  before  services  in 
the  hall,  and  was  attracted  in.  With  hand  raised,  he 
promised  to  be  a  Christian  and  live  for  God  and  meet  me  in 
Heaven.  He  said  he  had  my  Bible  that  I  gave  to  the  matron 
of  the  prison,  who,  when  he  was  leaving,  gave  it  to  him. 
"Cast  thy  bread  upon  the  waters,  for  thou  shalt  find  it  after 
many  days."  Many  others  gave  themselves  to  the  Lord  that 
night  but  this  was  one  of  my  prison  boys,  and  I  was  his 
mother,  in  that  sense,  as  my  life  has  been  consecrated  to  God 
for  that  special  line  of  work. 

The  day  following,  on  my  way  east,  I  was  compelled  to 
stay  over  night  at  a  way  station  where  we  were  to  change 
cars.  As  I  left  the  train  I  heard,  as  usual,  the  call  of  cab- 
men but  passed  on  into  the  waiting  room.  Several  followed 
me,  but  one  took  me  by  the  hand  and  addressing  me  fa- 
miliarly said,  "Get  into  my  cab,  mother,  it  is  all  right;  I'll 
take  you  where  you  wish  to  go."  Mother  Prindle,  who  was 
with  me  said,  "Do  you  know  Mother  Wheaton?"  He  re- 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  147 

plied,  "I  have  read  about  her/'  but  the  look  in  his  kind  eyes 
told  me  it  was  one  of  my  boys  from  prison.  He  was  now 
settled  in  life,  a  good  man,  with  a  wife  and  two  children. 
He  escorted  us  to  the  jail  where  I  desired  to  hold  services, 
then  to  the  home  of  a  minister,  and  from  there  to  our  lodg- 
ing house. 

I  bless  God,  and  will  through  all  eternity,  that  the  dear 
Lord  ever  called  me  to  work  in  the  prisons  as  well  as  in 
other  lines  of  Christian  work.  There  are  many  all  over  this 
land  now  serving  God,  leading  good,  honest  lives,  a  blessing 
to  their  country  and  an  honor  to  God's  cause,  who  were 
found  in  prisons  and  slums,  discouraged  and  having  given 
up  all  hope  of  ever  being  anything  but  miserable  and 
wretched.  They  are  now  serving  the  blessed  Christ  who 
came  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost,  and  destroy 
the  works  of  the  devil,  not  willing  that  any  should  perish, 
but  rather  that  all  should  be  saved.  O  reader,  many  are 
the  lives  we  might  rescue  from  the  ranks  of  the  enemy  if 
we  were  more  in  earnest  and  lived  in  close  touch  with  God, 
and  more  under  the  power  and  inspiration  of  the  Holy 
Spirit. 

Once  in  a  meeting  I  was  attending,  the  minister  in  charge 
took  another  young  preacher  by  the  hand,  and  said:  "I 
want  you  to  preach  for  us."  The  one  addressed  came  to 
the  front  of  the  platform  and  said :  "Yes,  I  will ;  but  first 
I  want  to  say  I  was  once  in  an  insane  prison,  an  awful 
place.  No  one  will  ever  know  all  we  had  to  suffer  there. 
I  was  insane  through  drink — no  one  could  help  me.  I  was 
sin-hardened  and  hard-hearted,  but  this  Mother  (pointing 
to  myself)  came  to  our  criminal  prison  and  sang  and 
prayed  and  talked  to  us,  and  was  kind  to  us,  and  my  heart 
was  melted,  and  I  wept — something  I  could  not,  would  not 


148  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

do  until  then.  Her  kindness  won  me,  and  I  was  saved, 
truly  sanctified,  and  I  have  been  preaching  the  Gospel  for 
four  years." 

A  CASE  OF  CRUEL  NEGLECT. 

At  the  best,  life  in  prison  is  hard.  How  much  worse  when 
cruelty  and  neglect  are  added  to  the  necessary  restrictions 
that  are  placed  upon  those  in  confinement.  I  knew  of  one 
young  colored  man  in  prison  in  the  south  who  was  compelled 
to  endure  the  winter  weather  without  proper  clothing  or 
covering.  His  one  blanket  was  so  short  that  his  feet  were 
so  badly  frozen  they  had  to  be  amputated.  Think  you  that 
such  things  as  these  do  not  cry  to  God  for  vengeance? 

ANOTHER   SUICIDE. 

Well  do  I  remember  a  promising  young  man,  who,  when 
I  was  preaching  in  a  prison  in  a  southern  state,  began 
trembling  and  ran  back  into  his  cell  and  called  for  an  officer 
to  bring  me  to  him.  I  found  that  he  was  quite  weak  from 
a  bullet  wound  he  had  received  in  a  drunken  row  in  a  sa- 
loon, he  having  killed  a  man  in  the  fight.  He  was  a  young 
man  with  bright  prospects  before  him,  but  bad  company 
and  a  love  for  strong  drink  had  wrought  his  ruin.  He  told 
me  of  his  uncle  who  was  a  minister,  a  prominent  evangelist. 
I  was  much  surprised  that  a  nephew  of  so  popular  a  min- 
ister should  be  in  state's  prison  for  such  an  awful  crime, 
crushed  with  shame  and  remorse.  Could  it  be  possible  ? 
His  mother  was  a  rich  lady. 

This  young  man  either  because  of  his  wealth  and  posi- 
tion, or  because  of  his  good  conduct  in  prison,  or  both,  was 
given  privileges  and  often  sent  outside  the  prison  grounds. 
Often  I  plead  with  him  to  come  to  Christ.  But  one  day  the 
old  demon  of  drink  had  overcome  him  and  having  secretly 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  149 

obtained  some  liquor,  while  at  a  game  of  cards  he  shot 
himself.  Let  us  throw  the  mantle  of  charity  over  that 
blighted  life,  and  leave  him  in  the  hands  of  a  just  God. 
Who  will  be  willing  to  answer  at  the  bar  of  God  for  that 
soul?  "Woe  unto  him  that  giveth  his  neighbor  drink,  that 
puttest  thy  bottle  to  him  and  makest  him  drunken  also." — 
Hab.  2:15.  "Vengeance  is  mine,  I  will  repay,  saith  the 
Lord." 

JUST  OUT  OF  PRISON. 

"O  the  wrongs  that  we  may  lighten, 
O  the  skies  that  we  may  brighten, 
O  the  hearts  that  we  may  lighten — 
Helping  just  a  little !  ' ' 

While  traveling  on  the  train  one  day,  the  brakeman  said 
to  me :  "There  is  an  ex-convict  in  the  smoking-car."  "All 
right,  I  will  go  in  and  see  him,"  I  said.  I  went  and  took 
him  by  the  hand  as  he  sat  alone  in  the  rear  seat  of  the 
car,  sad  and  dejected,  with  no  money,  no  friends,  no  home. 
His  mother  had  died  while  he  was  incarcerated  in  prison; 
home  broken  up,  nowhere  to  go.  How  glad  I  was  to  take 
this  poor  soul  upon  my  heart,  and  intercede  for  him  in  silent 
prayer ;  and  then  have  him  come  into  the  other  coach  and 
share  my  lunch.  At  parting  he  promised  me  he  would  live 
a  temperate  life,  and  serve  God  the  best  he  knew.  I  believe 
the  dear  Lord  had  me  travel  on  that  train  to  meet  that  poor 
unfortunate  and  help  and  strengthen  his  faith  in  Chris- 
tianity, by  showing  him  attention  outside  as  well  as  inside 
the  prison  walls.  How  often  a  soul  is  saved  from  a  down- 
fall by  a  word  in  season ;  a  kind  hand-clasp,  a  "God  bless 
you ;  cheer  up,  look  up,  better  days  are  coming,"  etc.  When 
hope  is  well-nigh  gone,  and  friends  have  forsaken,  and  all 


I5O  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

has  failed;  yet  we  can  always  tell  such  that  "God  never 
fails." 

DYING  IN  PRISON. 

One  day  as  I  was  alone  in  a  gloomy  prison  a  poor  boy 
called  to  me  and  said,  "Write  to  my  mother,  but  don't  tell 
her  where  you  found  me.  Please  don't  tell  her,  for  it  would 
kill  her.  She  never  could  live  and  know  her  boy  was  in 
prison."  On  the  dirty  floor,  lying  on  a  pile  of  still  dirtier 
straw  I  found  this  poor  prison  boy  dying.  I  fell  on  my 
knees  and  poured  out  my  heart  to  God  in  his  behalf. 

' '  That  head  had  been  pillowed  on  tenderest  breast, 

That  form  had  been  wept  o'er,  those  lips  had  been  pressed, 
That  soul  had  been  prayed  for  in  tones  sweet  and  mild; 
For  her  sake  deal  gently  with  some  mother's  child." 

Do  not  tell  me  that  it  does  not  pay  to  labor  and  pray  with 
these  dear  lost  ones.  For  if  I  can  be  the  means  of  rescuing 
but  one  soul  from  eternal  punishment,  thank  God,  it  pays 
me. 

WILL  IT  PAY? 

Some  gentlemen  were  once  looking  at  a  large  building 
erected  for  newsboys,  that  they  might  be  brought  under 
religious  and  refining  influences.  One  of  the  spectators 
asked  a  large  contributor  to  the  benevolent  institution  this 
question :  "Now  you  are  erecting  this  building  at  a  cost  of 
many  thousands  of  dollars,  and  I  admire  your  motives,  but 
suppose  that  after  all  this  great  expense  only  one  boy  was 
saved  here — would  you  still  think  it  paid  for  time,  labor 
and  money  expended?"  The  man  answered  quickly  and 
earnestly,  "Yes,  sir;  if  it  was  my  boy."  The  most  precious 
thing  in  the  sight  of  God  is  a  soul.  For  the  redemption  of 
every  soul  on  earth  was  paid  the  precious  blood  of  the 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  151 

Lamb  of  God.  Count  it  not  then  a  light  thing  in  His  sight 
for  one  to  be  saved  or  lost.  For  "There  is  joy  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  angels  of  God  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth — 
more  than  over  ninety  and  nine  just  persons  who  need  no 
repentance."  Hundreds  have  been  saved  under  my  obser- 
vation and  instrumentality  both  inside  and  outside  of  prison 
walls,  and  my  motto  has  been,  "Throw  out  the  lifeline 
across  the  dark  wave/' 

SAVED   AND    PREACHING    THE    GOSPEL. 

Upon  a  warm  July  day,  starting  to  walk  out  from  Bis- 
marck, N.  D.,  to  what  I  took  to  be  the  state's  prison,  but 
which  proved  to  be  a  large  water  reservoir,  being  overcome 
by  the  heat  I  fell,  and  crawling  to  a  shade  I  lay  down  with 
my  Bible  under  my  head.  After  a  time  I  saw  some  distance 
away  some  persons  driving  in  an  open  hack  and  signaled  to 
them  till  they  saw  me  and  came  to  me.  They  drove  me  to 
the  home  of  the  warden  of  the  prison  where  I  was  kindly 
received  by  the  warden's  wife  and  made  comfortable.  Late 
that  night  I  held  service  in  the  prison  corridors.  This  was 
in  1885,  and  in  1901  I  was  leading  a  meeting  in  a  mission  in 
Portland,  Oregon,  and  asked  all  who  had  something  special 
for  which  to  praise  the  Lord  to  speak.  A  brother  arose  and 
said: 

"I  want  to  thank  the  Lord  tonight  for  the  privilege  of  hearing 
"Mother"  Wheaton  preach  outside  of  prison  walls.  I  have  heard 
her  in  many  a  prison.  Years  ago,  one  night  at  9  o'clock,  when  all 
the  prisoners  had  been  locked  in  their  cells,  the  officers  unlocked 
the  doors  to  let  this  sister  sing  some  hymns  and  hold  services  in 
the  corridors.  One  hymn  that  especially  touched  my  heart  was 
'Throw  out  the  life  line.'  I  was  an  opium  fiend,  a  morphine  fiend, 
a  whisky  fiend,  and  an  all  around  bad  man,  and  was  ready  to 
despair.  But  God  touched  my  heart  and  saved  me  and  called  me 
to  the  ministry.  At  this  time  I  was  with  my  other  sins  a  deserter 
from  the  United  States  army.  When  my  time  expired  I  went  and 


152  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

gave   myself  up   and   was   sentenced  to   five   years  more   in   prison. 

But  God  had  mercy   on   me  and   in  seven   months   I   was  pardoned 

out.      Since   that   time   I    have   lived  an   honest   life,   and   for   eight 
years  have  preached  the  gospel." 

This  man  was  married  to  a  Christian  woman  and  has 
done  much  to  rescue  men  from  the  pit  from  which  he  had 
been  taken,  and  is  still  preaching. 

IN  SOLITARY  CONFINEMENT. 

One  Sunday  I  sang  perhaps  thirty  hymns  and  preached 
seven  times  to  prisoners  in  solitary  confinement,  where  I 
dare  not  see  them  or  clasp  their  hands  as  I  do  in  other 
prisons.  There  are  hundreds  there,  and  as  I  sang  in  all 
the  prison  wards  or  corridors  many  different  hymns,  the 
dear  souls  cheered  and  responded  with  their  clear  voices  as 
best  they  could  to  show  their  sincere  appreciation  of  my  ef- 
forts to  brighten  their  lonely  prison  life.  Each  was  "some 
mother's  boy."  Reader,  is  there  not  a  sympathetic  chord 
in  your  heart  for  these  poor  unfortunates? 

CRAPE  ON   THE   DOOR. 

I  once  felt  impressed  to  go  to  a  certain  prison  and  hold 
services.  Arriving  at  the  place  early  in  the  morning,  I 
thought  I  would  -go  to  the  prison  first  before  I  would  tele- 
phone for  a  cousin  who  often  helped  me  in  the  singing. 
When  I  arrived  at  the  prison,  the  chaplain  said,  "Mother 
Wheaton,  the  Lord  sent  you  to  help  me.  To-day  I  have  a 
funeral  service  of  a  prisoner,  something  we  have  never  had 
at  this  prison."  I  did  not  telephone  then  for  my  cousin,  as 
the  services  were  arranged.  I  worked  all  day  in  the  prison, 
holding  services  with  both  men  and  women  prisoners,  visit- 
ed the  hospital,  and  went  to  the  city  jail  at  5  p.  m.  and  held 
services,  and  then  went  to  my  relative's  home  and  was  great- 
ly shocked  to  find  crape  hanging  on  the  door.  I  found  my 


OR   A    LABOR  OF   LOVE  153 

cousin  cold  in  death.  Relatives  asked  me,  "Who  told  you?" 
I  said,  "God  impressed  me  to  come  at  this  time."  And  I 
went  with  them  to  the  grave  of  my  dear  cousin,  and  kneel- 
ing beside  the  open  grave,  I  promised  to  faithfully  do  God's 
holy  will,  and  meet  the  departed  one  in  Heaven. 

IN  A   POLICE   STATION. 

In  1903,  while  I  was  in  San  Francisco,  I  was  impressed 
to  go  to  the  police  station  about  nine  o'clock  one  night.  I 
found,  on  arriving,  an  ambulance  bringing  in  prisoners, 
among  them  a  woman  who  was  arrested  for  drunkenness. 
I  talked  and  prayed  with  her.  Hearing  a  noise  like  one  in 
distress,  I  walked  on  through  the  corridors  and  I  found  a 
young  soldier  who  was  badly  wounded  in  one  eye  and  the 
head.  He  was  standing  alone  in  his  cell  in  great,  pain.  The 
bandage  had  been  torn  off,  and  the  blood  was  running  down 
his  face,  though  his  wounds  had  evidently  been  dressed  by 
a  physician  before  coming  there.  He  was  crying  from  the 
pain,  and  was  under  the  influence  of  drink.  I  wiped  the 
blood  off  his  face,  and  put  the  bandage  on  his  eye  again. 
Then  I  knelt  in  prayer  with  him.  I  left  the  city  on  an 
early  train,  and  never  saw  him  again,  but  I  believe  God 
heard  and  answered  my  prayer  for  his  salvation. 

BURNED  IN    HIS   CELL. 

I  went  into  one  of  our  western  cities  to  hold  services  at 
the  jail.  On  the  way  from  the  depot  I  stopped  at  a  store, 
where  a  young  clerk  told  me  of  a  horrible  crime  that  had 
been  committed  in  the  jail.  That  the  prisoners  had  been 
trying  to  make  their  escape,  and  one  young  prisoner  had 
revealed  the  plot  to  the  jailer,  and  thus  saved  his  life.  The 
prison  wall  had  been  "worked"  in  a  cunning  manner,  and 
the  prisoners  were  about  to  escape,  when  this  poor  boy  in- 


154  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

formed  the  jailer  of  what  was  being  done.  The  other  three 
prisoners  were,  so  enraged  that  they  threw  coal  oil  over 
the  boy,  set  fire  to  his  clothing,  and  he  was  burned  alive  in 
the  cell.  I  was  grieved  at  hearing  this,  and  felt  that  I  could 
tee  them  punished  severely.  They  were  in  an  underground 
prison  for  safe-keeping  until  the  wall  could  be  repaired. 
The  officers  were  afraid  to  let  me  go  in,  but  I  told  them  I 
was  not  afraid,  and  went  down  the  stairs  ahead  of  the  of- 
ficers. I  saw  only  one  dim  candle  burning,  and  called  for  a 
light.  A  lamp  was  brought,  and  I  went  boldly  into  the 
presence  of  those  criminals.  I  sat  down  and  thought  of 
the  awfulness  of  it  all.  So,  as  I  wept,  I  sang  "Some  Mother's 
Boy/'  and  they  cried  like  their  hearts  were  breaking.  I 
went  over  to  them,  where  they  were  sitting  together  on  an 
old  bunk,  and  we  cried  together.  They  were  humble  and 
convicted,  and  it  was  love  that  did  it  all — God's  love  which 
showed  them  that  though  their  sins  were  as  scarlet,  they 
shall  be  white  as  snow,  though  red  like  crimson  they  shall 
be  as  wool.  God  heard  prayer  for  them  and  I  trust  they 
were  forgiven. 

THE    INNOCENT    IN    BONDS. 

In  a  certain  state  prison  the  officer  called  my  attention  to 
a  man  and  said,  "That  man  is  innocent  of  the  crime  he  was 
sentenced  for."  "Then  why  do  you  keep  him  here?"  I 
asked.  "Because  he  serves  for  his  friend,  willingly  allowing 
the  guilt  to  be  placed  upon  himself  rather  than  see  this 
friend  who  was  really  guilty  suffer."  On  leaving  the  prison 
I  came  upon  this  man  with  an  officer  on  the  train,  and  had 
the  pleasure  of  talking  to  the  man  and  hearing  his  story.  I 
referred  him  to  Psalms  15  :i,  2,  4.  "Lord,  who  shall  abide  in 
thy  tabernacle  ?  Who  shall  dwell  in  thy  holy  hill  ?  He  that 
walketh  uprightly  and  worketh  righteousness,  and  speaketh 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  155 

the  truth  in  his  heart.  He  that  sweareth  to  his  own  hurt, 
and  changeth  not."  He  was  being  taken  to  another  court 
for  trial. 

CONFESSED  HER  GUILT. 

A  woman  in  a  prison  was  convicted  of  sin  under  my 
preaching,  and  sent  for  me  to  come  to  her  cell,  where  she 
gave  me  such  an  account  of  her  crimes  that  I  was  shocked, 
and  yet  was  powerless  to  liberate  an  innocent  man  that  she 

said  was  in state's  prison  for  a  crime  she  committed. 

She  asked  me  to  go  and  tell  him  for  her  that  she  was  the 
guilty  one,  and  try  to  have  him  freed,  but  wanted  the  matter 
kept  secret.  Now  that  she  was  under  conviction  of  her 
sins,  she  could  not  rest.  I  went  to  the  state  prison  she 
named,  found  the  man,  and  told  him  her  story.  His  agony 
was  pitiful  to  behold.  He  said,  "O  how  I  loved  my  wife 
and  baby.  I  am  an  innocent  man.  How  can  I  live  my  sent- 
ence out  in  this  way?  Nothing  to  live  for."  Such  bitter- 
ness as  he  held  toward  that  wicked  woman,  for  her  crime 
and  duplicity !  I  left  him  in  an  agony  of  grief.  And  yet 
there  are  so  many  who  are  serving  as  unjustly  for  others' 
crimes!  This  woman  had  killed  the  wife  thinking  she  her- 
self would  then  get  the  husband. 

UNDER  SENTENCE  OF  DEATH. 

Going  into  the  presence  of  two  condemned  men  on  our  na- 
tional holiday,  the  chaplain  remarked,  "I  wish  you  could 
reach  these  men's  hearts.  You  have  often  helped  others  in 
this  prison  who  were  under  death  sentence."'  I  prayed  in 
silence  for  wisdom,  and  as  I  walked  into  their  presence,  I 
said,  "I  have  come  to  sing  to  you  and  have  a  little  visit  with 
you,  but  if  you  prefer  to  be  alone,  I  will  go  away."  They 
said  they  would  be  glad  to  have  me  stay.  I  sang  several 


156  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

songs,  and  before  I  had  spoken  of  religion,  I  was  made  glad 
to  see  tears  in  their  eyes,  and  then  we  knelt  in  prayer,  and  I 
prayed  God  to  pardon  their  sins  and  make  them  pure  in  His 
sight. 

I  do  not  believe  in  capital  punishment.  Lord  hasten  the 
day  when  the  crime  of  putting  men  to  death  legally  shall 
be  done  away  with.  It  does  not  stop  crime.  I  thank  God 
that  one  noble  warden  gave  up  his  honorable  position  and 
salary,  rather  than  take  the  lives  of  any  more  men.  I  wish 
God  would  raise  up  men  all  over  our  land  who  in  like  man- 
ner would  be  brave  enough  to  refuse  to  sacrifice  human 
lives  because  the  law  licenses  them  to  do  so.  When  I  see 
wicked  men  so  anxious  to  see  poor,  helpless  men  executed, 
I  think  of  that  authoritative  utterance,  "Vengeance  is  mine, 
I  will  repay,  saith  the  Lord."  Jesus  said,  "He  that  hateth 
his  brother  is  a  murderer."  There  is  a  day  of  reckoning 
coming. 

THE  RELIGION   MOTHER  HAD. 

Many  times  prisoners  have  said  to  me  when  speaking  to 
them,  "That's  the  kind  of  religion  mother  had.  You  re- 
mind me  of  my  own  dear  old  mother;"  and  many,  even 
statesmen,  and  the  attendants  in  the  capitol,  and  in  the 
President's  mansion,  have  said  to  me  with  uncovered  heads, 
and  tears  in  their  eyes,  "That  is  the  kind  of  religion  mother 
had.  I  wish  I  was  as  good  as  she  was."  I  find  the  crying 
need  to-day  in  all  stations  of  life,  from  the  palace  to  the 
dungeon,  is  real,  genuine,  heartfelt,  common-sense  salva- 
tion, not  to  be  cranks  and  fanatics,  not  to  be  one-sided 
or  half-way  professors  of  religion;  but  to  have  the  Holy 
Ghost  in  our  hearts  and  lives,  and  a  burning  desire  to  help 
every  one  into  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven,  Being  "all  things 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  157 

to  all  men"  that  we  might  win  some  wandering  souls  to 
Christ. 

0  the  joy  of  knowing  that  you  are  doing  just  what  God 
wants  you  to  do — winning  souls  for  His  Kingdom,  from  all 
walks  of  life;  often  in  houses  of  ill-fame  souls  are  truly 
saved  and  reformed.    Often  in  saloons  men  and  women  are 
impressed  by  the  straightforward  message  of  love  brought 
them.     You  say,  "No  use  to  try."     O  thou  of  little  faith, 
wherefore  did'st  thou  doubt?     I  have  much  encouragement 
among  the  criminal  classes,  for  they  are  despised  and  re- 
jected by  earthly  friends. 

1  might  give  many  more  instances,  but  this  is  probably 
sufficient.     Let  no  one  think  for  a  moment  that  these  poor 
unfortunates  have  no  tender  feeling,  no  remorse  because 
of  sin.    They  see  their  shame  and  feel  the  separation  from 
home  and  loved  ones.     There  must  be  places  to  confine 
criminals  and  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  other  peo- 
ple, but  we  must  remember  that  behind  all  the  guilt  there 
are  precious  souls  that  live  through  all  eternity. 

Sin  is  treacherous,  the  human  heart  deceitful  above  all 
things  and  desperately  wicked;  perhaps  under  unfavorable 
conditions  the  heart  of  the  most  moral  man  or  woman  may 
generate  the  evil  of  the  human  nature  and  cause  it  to  show 
its  corruption  in  crime.  All  that  saves  some  people  now 
from  the  felon's  cell,  or  gambler's  hell,  is  that  they  hold  the 
propensity  of  their  corrupt  hearts  in  with  bit  and  bridle. 
And  thousands  tread  the  earth  in  freedom,  who,  if  justice 
could  find  them  out  and  fasten  their  guilt  upon  them,  would 
be  in  the  prison  stripes  and  iron  cells.  So  be  not  so  ready 
to  cry  "Crucify  him!"  "Stone  her!"  until  you  can  look 
into  your  own  heart  and  see  that  it  is  pure  and  clean. 


158 


PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 


CAPITAL  PUNISHMENT. 

Thank  God!  that  I  have  lived  to  see  the  time 
When  the  great  truth  begins  at  last  to  find 
An  utterance  from  the  deep  heart  of  mankind, 

Earnest  and  clear,  that  ALL  REVENGE  is  CRIME! 
That  man  is  holier  than  a  creed — that  all 

Restraint  upon  him  must  consult  his  good, 
Hope's  sunshine  linger  on  his  prison  wall, 

And  Love  look  in  upon  his  solitude. 

The  beautiful  lesson  which  our  Saviour  taught 
Througft  long,  dark  centuries  its  way  hath  wrought 
Into  the  common  mind  and  popular  thought; 

And  words,  to  which  by  Galilee's  lake  shore, 

The  humble  fishers  listened  with  hushed  oar, 
Have  found  an  echo  in  the  general  heart, 
And  of  the  public  faith  become  a  living  part. 

No  more  the  ghastly  sacrifices  smoke 
Through  the  green  arches  of  the  Druid's  oak; 

And  ye  of  milder  faith,  with  your  high  claim 

Of  prophet-utterance  in  the  Holiest  name, 
Will  ye  become  the  Druids  of  our  time! 

Set  up  your  scaffold-altars  in  our  land, 
And,   consecrators   of   Law's   darkest   crime, 

Urge  to  its  loathsome  work  the  hangman's  hand? 
Beware — lest  human  nature,   roused  at  last, 
From  its  peeled  shoulder  your  encumbrance  cast, 

And,  sick  to  loathing  of  your  cry  for  blood, 
Rank  ye  with  those  who  led  their  victims  round 
The  Celt 's  red  altar  and  the  Indian 's  mound, 

Abhorred  of  Earth  and  Heaven — a  pagan  brotherhood! 
— JOHN  GREENLEAF  WHITTIER. 


INTERIOR  OF  CHAPEL-DINING  APARTMENT  AND  ROW  OF  CELLS, 
CHESTER,    ILL. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

Conversion  of  Desperate  Prisoners  Prevents  a  Terrible 

Mutiny. 

During  the  fall  of  1888,  I  was  deeply  impressed  that  I 
should  visit  the  state  prison  at  Waupun,  Wis.  Following 
the  guidance  of  the  Spirit,  I  reached  the  place,  after  a 
long  journey,  on  the  evening  of  November  third.  A  dear 
Christian  girl  was  with  me.  It  was  a  lovely  moonlight 
night  and  as  we  came  to  the  prison,  the  yard  was  plainly 
visible  through  the  heavy  iron  grating.  My  companion 
called  my  attention  to  its  beauty  but  my  heart  was  heavy 
and  I  could  only  reply,  "Sister,  pray !  O  do  pray !  There 
is  something  awfully  wrong  here — some  danger  pending 
— something  terrible!" 

The  officers  of  the  prison  welcomed  me  heartily  and  the 
chaplain  said :  "I  am  glad  you  have  come  and  shall  be 
pleased  to  have  you  take  the  service  tomorrow  morning. 
(It  was  Saturday.)  His  wife  entertained  us  during  our 
stay  and  after  taking  us  to  their  own  rooms  he  said : 
"There's  a  man  here  who  is  a  terror  to  both  the  officers 
and  prisoners.  All  are  afraid  of  him.  Neither  kindness 
or  punishment  seems  to  affect  him.  I  wish  you  could  do 
something  to  help  him."  My  reply  was:  -"I  cannot  do 
anything,  but  God  can."  And  earnestly  did  I  look  to 
God  for  help. 

The  next  morning  a  heavy  burden  still  rested  upon  my 
heart  and  I  prayed  God  to  go  before  me  to  that  prison 
chapel  and  lead  the  meeting  Himself  and  give  me  the 
right  message.  Nor  did  I  plead  in  vain,  for  many  souls 
were  that  day  deeply  convicted  of  sin  and  some  were 
blessedly  saved  as  was  clearly  manifested  a  little  later. 


l62  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

After  the  sermon  my  friend  and  myself  sang  a  hymn  and 
this  was  greatly  used  by  the  Spirit  in  connection  with  the 
sermon  in  reaching  the  very  depths  of  hearts.  It  was  the 
custom  to  hold  an  after  meeting  for  thirty  minutes,  but 
those  who  wished  to  remain  were  expected  to  secure  cards 
or  tickets,  granting  permission,  on  the  previous  day.  That 
Sunday  the  chaplain  said :  "All  who  wish  to  remain  to  this 
service  can  do  so  without  a  card,  as  these  ladies  are  here." 

A  hardened  looking  criminal  (whom  I  afterward  learned 
to  be  the  one  to  whom  the  chaplain  had  referred  the  night 
before)  arose  to  retire  with  a  few  others.  I  went  to  him  at 
once  and  took  him  by  the  hand  and  urged  him  to  stay,  but 
he  said:  "No,  they  don't  want  me  here.  This  meeting  is 
for  good  people  and  I  am  too  bad  to  stay."  But  I  pleaded: 
"No,  you  stay — we  want  you  to  stay.  I  want  you  to  stay." 
And  then  he  said :  "'Well,  I'll  stay  for  your  sake,"  and  sat 
down.  The  meeting  progressed  under  the  power  of  the 
Lord  and  many  arose  to  say  that  they  had  been  very  wicked 
but  were  sorry;  and  if  God  could  and  would  forgive  them 
they  would  lead  a  different  life  and  be  good  men.  Some  told 
how  their  dear  old  mothers  were  good  and  had  prayed  for 
them  and  that  they  wanted  us  to  pray  for  them  and  they 
would  serve  the  Lord. 

I  noticed  that  many  of  the  men  as  they  arose  glanced  fur- 
tively at  the  man  to  whom  I  have  referred  and  that  he  sat 
looking  at  each  one  as  he  spoke  and  evidently  had  great  in- 
fluence over  the  other  prisoners.  At  last  he  arose  and  said, 
"Men,  don't  be  afraid  of  me.  If  there  is  any  good  in  this 
religion  you  are  talking  about,  go  ahead  and  get  it.  I'll 
stand  by  you  and  nobody  shall  say  before  me,  There's  your 
praying  man'  or  'There's  your  hypocrite.'  I  can't  be  good — 
I'm  too  far  gone — but  I'll  stand  by  the  men  who  are  going 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  163 

to  do  right."  All  were  evidently  deeply  impressed  by  his 
words.  As  he  sat  down  I  went  to  him  and  taking  him  by 
the  hand,  I  said,  "God  loves  you  and  He  wants  to  save  you 
and  to  help  you  to  live  for  a  better  world  than  this."  Again 
he  insisted,  "I'm  too  far  gone !  It's  too  late  for  me  to  try 
to  do  right!  There's  no  hope  for  me,"  but  still  I  pleaded 
with  him  to  return  unto  the  Lord — that  there  was  still  mercy 
and  pardon  for  even  him — and  that  he  would  yield  to  the 
Holy  Spirit's  pleading  and  become  a  Christian.  He  was 
evidently  very  deeply  convicted  of  sin  and  soon  arose  and 
with  deep  feeling  he  said,  "Men,  you  know  what  I  have 
been — watch  me  from  today  and  see  what  I  will  be;"  and 
as  he  sat  down  the  prisoners  cheered. 

Fearful  as  to  what  the  outcome  might  be  and  somewhat 
doubting  his  sincerity,  the  chaplain  quickly  closed  the  ser- 
vice and  ordered  the  men  to  their  cells.  They  obediently  left 
the  chapel,  but  truly  God  had  wondrously  wrought  that  day 
in  the  hearts  of  many  of  the  most  noted  and  hardened  crim- 
inals. In  the  afternoon  we  went,  in  company  with  the  chap- 
lain, from  cell  to  cell  singing,  talking,  and  praying  with  the 
men.  The  chaplain  took  me  to  the  cell  of  the  man  who  had 
given  so  much  trouble — a  man  who  had  taken  several  lives, 
and  there  he  gave  his  heart  to  God  and  was  converted. 

PLAN  OF  THE  MUTINY. 

After  all  the  prisoners  had  been  locked  in  the  cells  and 
the  officers  had  gone  to  their  homes  or  rooms,  only  a  few 
guards  remaining  on  duty,  he  sent  for  the  warden  to  come 
to  his  cell  and  requested  to  be  taken  out  into  the  prison 
yard.  At  first  the  warden  refused  to  do  so  because  of  his 
being  known  to  be  such  a  dangerous  character.  Still  he  in- 
sisted, saying  that  he  had  something  to  show  him.  The  war- 
den, who  had  been  an  army  officer  and  was  a  very  brave 


164  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

man,  was  only  partially  convinced  but  finally  consented  say- 
ing: "I'm  not  afraid  of  you — one  wrong  move  and  you're 
a  dead  man.  I  have  had  enough  trouble  with  you.  I  will 
take  you  into  the  yard,  but  beware !" 

Well  armed,  he  marched  the  man  into  the  yard.  There 
the  prisoner  led  him  to  the  extreme  end,  and  taking  away 
some  dry  leaves  and  boards  he  said  to  the  warden,  "Look 
in."  The  warden  did  so  and,  O,  what  a  sight  met  his  eyes ! 
There,  in  a  hole,  were  knives,  guns,  and  other  weapons! 

Staggering  back  he  exclaimed,  "My  ,  where  did  you 

get  those  things?"  "It  don't  matter  where  I  got  them," 
replied  the  prisoner,  "but  take  me  back  to  my  cell  and  then 
take  away  these  weapons.  I  intended  to  liberate  the  prison 
tomorrow  morning  and  would  have  done  so  if  that  woman 
had  not  come  and  preached  here  today.  I  am  a  changed 
man  now/' 

How  he  got  those  weapons  was  a  mystery,  but  he  had 
been  long  years  planning  an  escape,  and  had  chosen  some  of 
the  most  daring  of  his  fallow  prisoners  (both  those  inside 
and  others  who  had  gone  out)  to  aid  him  !  Whether  he 
could  have  succeeded  or  not,  doubtless  many  lives  either  of 
officers  or  prisoners  or  of  both  would  have  been  lost  had 
the  attempt  been  made.  But  God  wrought  so  mightily  that 
instead  of  lives  being  lost  precious  souls  were  saved.  Sev- 
eral were  converted  that  day  who  are  still  living  noble  Chris- 
tian lives.  Others  may  be, — I  leave  that  with  God.  I  do 
not  know  whether  the  leader  is  still  living  or  not,  but  have 
heard  that  he  was  dead.  At  any  rate  he  served  his  long 
sentence  and  claimed  to  be  still  a  Christian  when  he  left 
the  prison. 

HAVOC  OF  SIN. 
Among  the  many  who  were  converted  during  that  Sunday 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  165 

morning  service  in  1888,  was  a  very  amiable,  intelligent,  re- 
fined-appearing young  man,  still  in  his  teens,  who  was  serv- 
ing under  life  sentence.  He  was  a  real  "mother's  boy," 
so  young  and  so  small  that  after  his  conversion  I  used  to 
call  him  my  little  son.  He  belonged  to  one  of  the  best  fami- 
lies of  the  state.  His  father  was  a  physician  and  a  class- 
mate and  friend  of  the  governor.  For  the  sake  of  his  brok- 
en-hearted parents,  as  well  as  his  own,  and  being  satisfied 
that  he  was  really  innocent  of  the  crime  of  which  he  had 
been  convicted,  I  began  to  pray  earnestly  for  his  release. 
But  the  case  dragged  on  and  though  he  was  pardoned  some 
years  later,  it  was  not  until  after  his  father  died  broken- 
hearted and  the  mother's  health  had  failed  under  her  weight 
of  sorrow  and  an  aunt  had  gone  insane. 

During  his  imprisonment  I  at  one  time  visited  his  poor 
mother  in  her  home.  Oh !  what  havoc  sin  had  wroughtt! 
What  sorrow !  For  though  I  believe  him  entirely  innocent 
of  the  crime  for  which  he  was  condemned,  his  conviction 
was  the  result  of  his  being  led  astray  by  evil  influences  and 
associates. 

Oh,  that  I  could  warn  young  men  of  the  dangers  of  bad 
company,  and  that  I  could  warn  parents  of  the  dangers,  of 
discouraging  their  children  in  waiting  upon  and  serving 
God. 

When  this  boy  was  quite  young,  he  wanted  to  become  a 
Christian  and  engage  in  work  for  souls,  but  his  parents 
thought  it  would  be  a  disgrace,  as  they  were  aristocratic, 
but  alas!  what  snares  had  the  enemy  set  for  him,  from 
which  he  might  have  entirely  escaped,  if  they  had  encour- 
aged him  to  be  true  to  God. 

I  received  many  letters  from  him  while  he  was  in  prison 
and  quote  from  two  of  them.  We  have  not  heard  from  him 


l66  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

for  years  but  trust  that  if  alive  he  is  still  living  for  God 
and  Heaven. 

Waupun,  Wis.,  July  7,  1895. 
Dear  Mother,  ' '  In  His  Name ' '  : 

Since  my  last  letter  to  you  several  things  of  interest  have  trans- 
pired. My  attorney  went  to  see  the  governor  and  then  came  to 
see  me.  We  went  over  some  evidence,  and  at  last  I  convinced  them 
that  I  alone  can  untangle  the  skein  of  false  evidence. 

T  located  a  Mrs.  N.  and  she  gave  an  affidavit  which  would  have 
cleared  me  at  my  trial.  She  said  she  felt  that  she  had  been  the 
cause  of  all  my  suffering,  but  that  she  went  to  LaCrosse  at  the 
time  of  my  trial  and  was  met  at  the  train  by  a  detective,  who  told 
her  if  she  wanted  to  keep  out  of  serious  trouble  to  take  the  first 
train  out  of  the  city,  and  she  did  so.  I  expect  to  soon  have  another 
witness  to  corroborate  her  statement.  ^  Then  if  I  can  locate  the 
sister  of  the  deceased  and  get  her  evidence  I  will  have  a  sure  case 
against  those  who  perjured  themselves  to  send  me  here. 

Yes,  I  have  placed  all  my  life  in  God's  hands  and  have  begun 
my  work  here;  but,  being  a  convict,  I  am  much  hindered.  There- 
fore, in  order  to  do  a  more  abundant  and  faithful  service,  I  desire 
my  freedom.  If  I  get  it,  I  will  try  and  enter  the  Moody  Institute 
nnd  take  a  course  of  training  for  the  work.  Mrs.  K.  is  anxious  to 
have  me  do  so. 

Our  chaplain  will  preside  over  our  Christian  Endeavor  Society. 
I  recently  sent  out  my  report  to  be  read  at  the  Boston  convention 
in  session  the  10th  inst.,  and  I  ventured,  in  the  light  of  all  events, 
to  place  the  following  motto  over  our  penitentiary:  "Wisconsin 
Prison  for  Christ  "  for  the  coming  year,  and  by  the  time  of  the 
next  convention,  I  hope  to  be  out  to  represent  the  Christian  En- 
deavor boys. 

Brother  H.  told  me  of  a  song  you  sing.  "Some  Mother's  Child" 
is  the  song.  Will  says  it  is  simply  sublime  and  I  ought  to  have  it. 
Such  songs  turn  the  mind  back  to  home  and  to  the  memory  of  fond 
parents  and  loved  ones.  Such  pieces  are  always  very  sacred  to  me. 

God  bless  you  and  spare  you  for  many  years  to  come,  that  you 
may  continue  to  be  a  Mother  to  the  prisoners  cf  earth.  Write  me 
when  yon  con. 

I  am  your  loving  little  son,  "In  His  Name,"  ALBERT. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  167 

Waupun,   Wis.,    Nov.   27,   1895. 
My  Dear  Mother: 

Your  excellent  letter  duly  at  hand.  Both  Brother  Colgrove  and 
I  were  surprised,  for  we  had  concluded  that  God  in  His  infinite 
love  and  wisdom  had  carried  you  home. 

I  am  at  work  here  in  the  official  building,  in  the  office  of  our  dear 
chaplain.  Brother  Colgrove  is  in  the  hospital  across  the  hall  from 
our  office.  I  have  talked  with  the  chaplain  about  your  coming,  and 
he  says  to  tell  you  to  come  and  stay  two  weeks.  He  would  like  to 
have  you  spend  two  Sundays,  and  in  the  meantime  we  will  no  doubt, 
under  the  present  warden,  be  able  to  secure  the  evenings  during  the 
week  for  a  series  of  revival  meetings. 

Lovingly  your  son  in  the  work, 

ALBERT. 


l68  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 


Guilt  comes  not,  thundering  on  the  wings  of  time, 

With  vice-distorted  feature  and  the  leer  of  crime, 

But  like  enchanting  vision  from  a  pagan  dream, 

Or  softly  echoed  cadence  of  a  whispering  stream, 

She  steals  upon  us  gently,  with  ever-changing  art, 

And  usurps  an  empire — the  waiting  human  heart! 

Her  outward  form  is  beauty,  her  voice  with  Passion  tense, 

She  only  craves  the  privilege  to  gratify  each  sense; 

All  apparent  pleasures    'round  her  path  are  spread, 

But,  alas!  you  seize  the  flower  to  find  its  fragrance  fled; 

But  still  pursuing,  row  with  bated  breath, 

You  clasp  her  to  your  bosom  and — embrace  a  death! 

Then,  conscience  stricken,  you  the  wreck  survey, 

And  with  shuddering  horror — humbly  kneel  to  pray; 

While  the  pitying  angels  on  their  pinions  bear 

The   ever  sacred  burden   of  repentant  prayer, 

And  almighty  love  descending  reasserts  control, 

And  mercy  in  the  guise  of  grace  has  won  a  human  soul. 

— A  Prisoner. 


CHAPTER  X. 


Remarkable  Conversion  and  Experience  of  George  H. 

Colgrove. 


Among  the  others  who 
were  saved  that  fourth 
day  of  November,  1888, 
at  Waupim,  Wis.,  was 
the  very  remarkable  case 
of  Geo.  H.  Colgrove. 
Years  afterwards  the 
chaplain  said  of  him,  "I 
regard  him  as  an  ideal — 
one  of  whom  you  would 
expect  this  report :  'If 
ever  there  was  a  good 
Christian  man  on  earth 
he  is  one.'  "  At  one  time 
he  had  three  Bible  class- 
es in  prison  each  week — 
one  in  English  and  two 
in  German — -and  was 
the  means  of  the  accom- 
plishment of  much  good 
in  the  conversion  of 
prisoners. 


GEO.   H.  COLGROVE. 


HIS  OWN   STORY. 

The  story  of  his  life  and  conversion  is  given,  as  nearly 
as  possible,  in  his  own  words,  but  as  found  in  two  different 
statements — some  particulars  being  given  in  one  that  were 
not  in  the  other — in  order  to  make  the  account  as  complete 
as  I  can. 

It  is  very  difficult  for  one  in  prison,  especially,  to  write  of  them- 
selves without  giving  to  strangers  the  impression  of  either  vanity 
ana  conceit  on  the  one  hand  or  of  craft  and  deception  on  the  other. 
Therefore,  it  is  with  considerable  hesitation  that  I  write.  Yet  my 
gre«t  indebtedness  to  "Mother"  Wheaton,  who  was  chosen  of  God 
,  the  agent  through  whom  His  wondrous  work  should  be  made  mani- 


I7O  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

fest  to  the  world  in  my  salvation,  as  also  of  many  others,  has  at  last 
led  me  to  make  the  following  statement: 

Just  on  the  verge  of  manhood,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  I  obtained 
some  infidel  literature  of  the  mild  stamp,  yet  scholarly  and  per- 
suasive withal,  containing  no  harsh  criticism  of  Christian  people  and 
principles.  This  aroused  my  interest  and  admiration  and  led  to  my 
obtaining  more  of  a  like  nature,  until  under  their  combined  influence 
my  youthful  mind  was  entirely  surrendered  to  such  doubts  and  dis- 
belief as  they  advocated. 

This  was  the  pivotal  point  in  my  early  life  from  which  I  started 
down  the  deceitful  road  that  leads  from  peace,  happiness  and  honor 
into  the  depths  of  sorrow,  infamy  and  despair.  Having  thus  im- 
bibed the  subtle  poison  of  infidelity,  I  soon  became  blinded  and  in- 
different to  the  rights  of  my  fellowmen  and  to  the  enormity  of  vio- 
lating divine  law. 

BURGLARY  AND  MURDER. 

From  this  low  plane  of  morality  it  was  easy  to  enter  the  pasth 
of  crime ;  and  this  I  did,  following  the  precarious  calling  of  burglary 
for  five  years.  This  dark  way  ended  in  the  midnight  gloom  of  a  mur- 
derer. Detection,  arrest  and  conviction  followed  in  rapid  succession, 
soon  bringing  down  upon  me  the  crushing  weight  of  a  "life  sen- 
tence." So  that  on  a  cold  wintry  night  the  officers  of  the  law 
delivered  me  within  the  portals  of  a  living  tomb. 

Four  dark,  hopeless,  weary  years  succeeded.  Yet  the  Lord  in  His 
great  mercy  had  not  forgotten  me;  and  when  all  the  world  deserted 
me,  then  He  in  His  loving  kindness  took  me  up  and  His  favor  was 
manifested  through  the  instrumentality  of  "Mother"  Wheaton. 

During  the  early  years  of  my  incarceration  no  words  could  portray 
my  intense  and  bitter  hatred  of  Christianity  and  anything  pertain- 
ing thereto.  Feeling  that  I  had  sold  my  soul  to  the  prince  of  dark- 
ness, it  enraged  me  to  be  reminded  of  a  better  life,  or  a  possible 
Heaven. 

Burning  with  the  fires  of  hatred  and  revenge  toward  those  whom 
T  knew  had  unjustly  deceived  and  wronged  me,  my  only  desire  was 
to  escape  from  here  even  long  enough  to  rush  upon  my  enemies  and 
hurl  their  souls  into  eternity,  and  then  follow  them  immediately  if 
need  be.  I  continually  planned  and  schemed  for  the  accomplishment 
of  this  purpose,  and  had  a  plan  of  escape  well  defined  and  was  mak- 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  171 

ing  arrangements  to  put  it  into  execution,  when  one  bright  and  beau- 
tiful Sunday  morning  it  was  announced  that  a  lady  preacher  was 
going  to  hold  services  in  the  chapel  that  day. 

Though  I  did  not  often  attend  church,  yet  on  this  occasion  I  swore 
some  big  round  oaths  that  I  would  go  up  and  hear  the  lady  talk. 

That  was  the  morning  of  November  4,  1888.  The  beautiful  sun 
that  shines  alike  on  mansion  and  cottage,  palace  and  prison,  shone  as 
though  a  special  degree  of  radiance  had  been  granted  to  light  a  be- 
nighted soul  on  its  way  out  of  darkness  into  light.  But  I  entered 
the  chapel  with  cold  indifference,  drawn  only  by  curiosity — at  least 
so  far  as  I  knew ;  but  results  proved  that  God  was  leading.  I  awaited 
developments;  and  they  fame.  Our  prison  chaplain  introduced 
' '  Mother ' '  Wheaton,  whom  I  had  never  seen  before,  and  announced 
the  services  as  ' '  entirely  in  her  hands. ' '  She  gave  us  a  short,  earnest, 
impressive  address;  then  she  and  the  sister  who  came  with  her  sang 
1 '  Meet  me  there. ' ' 

During  the  singing  I  heard  an  accompanying  strain,  low  and  in- 
expressibly sweet,  the  like  of  which  I  had  never  heard  nor  imagined. 
The  two  sounds  harmonized,  yet  were  distinct,  but  oh,  how  lovely! 
Words  fail  to  convey  the  most  distant  idea  of  their  soothing  and  at- 
tractive power. 

The  thought  flashed  through  my  mind,  '  *  That  is  delicious  music 
to  fall  upon  ears  that  have  listened  to  the  sound  of  murderous  guns. ' ' 
Suddenly  and  with  all  the  vividness  of  continuous  lightning  dis- 
pelling dense  darkness,  revealing  all  surrounding  objects  distinctly, 
the  awful  depth  and  blackness  of  my  iniquitous  career  blazed  up  be- 
fore my  mental  view,  like  a  clear  and  definite  painting  of  each  act 
in  my  wicked  life — portrayed  on  canvas  by  a  master  hand  and  set 
in  clearest  rays  of  the  noonday  sun.  And  at  the  same  time  there 
was  given  an  assurance  of  forgiveness,  if  accepted  then. 

Surprise,  consternation  and  intense  fear  came  with  this  revelation 
of  myself  to  myself,  as  my  depraved  spiritual  condition  was,  for  the 
first  time,  fully  realized.  Also  as  distinctly  and  positively  it  was 
granted  me  to  know  that  my  last  opportunity  for  divine  favor  was 
before  me.  Accept  and  be  saved  or  reject  and  be  eternally  lost! 
Such  was  the  alternative. 

Although  every  nerve  thrilled  in  rebellion  against  Christianity 
nnd  a  thousand  obstacles  seemed  to  intervene,  rendering  a  change  in 
my  course  of  life  impossible,  yet  I  dared  not  refuse  that  stern,  ter- 


172  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

rific  ultimatum,  "Your  last  opportunity,"  and  before  its  mighty 
mandate  my  proud,  headstrong,  sin-burdened  soul  surrendered  unto 
Jesus  of  Nazareth. 

I  wished  to  fly  from  the  room,  but  could  not.  I  felt  frightened 
at  the  power  which  was  mastering  me,  and  thought  in  a  confused 
way  of  the  ridicule  which  would  be  heaped  upon  me,  of  my  intended 
escape,  and  of  revenge  upon  my  foes.  Ah!  what?  Revenge?  No, 
no  revenge  now.  No,  no.  That  was  all  gone.  The  evil  desire  had 
thus  suddenly  been  removed  without  my  knowledge,  and  in  its  stead 
there  reigned  in  my  heart  and  in  the  depths  of  my  soul  a  feeling  of 
forgiveness  and  peace,  both  between  them  and  myself  and  between 
myself  and  my  God. 

I  said,  "Surely  the  Lord  has  visited  me  this  day;  for  I  came  in 
here  a  devil  in  human  form,  and  now  my  dark  sins  are  forgiven 
and  I  am  free.  Glory  to  God !  ' ' 

The  chaplain  and  warden  were  nearly  thunderstruck  to  learn  that 
the  low,  miserable,  worthless  wretch,  the  hopeless  vagabond,  Colgrove, 
had  been  brought  to  the  foot  of  the  cross;  still  they  must  have  en- 
tertained but  little  hope  of  my  remaining  in  the  straight  and  nar- 
row path  that  leadeth  unto  life.  How  could  they?  They  had  not 
heard  that  strange  music  which  had  floated  in  on  my  soul.  They 
could  not  feel  the  awakening  which  was  permeating  and  ringing 
through  the  corridors  of  my  heart,  nor  could  they  perceive  the  realiz- 
ing sense  of  divine  favor  which  was  so  clear  to  my  own  conscious- 
ness. 

That  very  week  it  was  impressed  on  my  mind  that  I  must  at  once 
commence  the  study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  for.  work  in  the  cause 
of  God  and  devote  the  remainder  of  my  life  to  leading  my  fellow- 
men,  and  especially  prisoners,  into  the  light  of  Calvary.  I  said, 
"What  will  it  all  amount  to — I  a  friendless  prisoner,  doomed  for 
life  I "  An  answering  whisper  came,  ' '  Friendless,  with  Jesus  for 
your  friend?  Study  the  Word."  So  in  blindness,  with  fear  and 
trembling,  doubts  and  misgivings,  I  took  from  my  shelf  in  the  prison 
cell  the  neglected,  despised  and  dust-covered  Bible  and  commenced 
studying  the  Word  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  with  none  but  God  to 
direct  or  assist  me  except  a  hasty  explanation  now  and  then  from 
the  chaplain  as  he  passed  on  his  hurried  rounds  through  the  cell 
rooms. 

I  immediately  destroyed  the  implements  of  destruction  and  escape 


OR   A    LABOR  OF    LOVE  173 

which  I  had  made  during  two  years  previous  to  my  conversion.  In- 
stead of  dirks  and  saws,  my  hands  now  grasped  the  Bible  and  the 
cross;  and  thanks  be  unto  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  they  still  retain  their 
hold,  and  I  believe  with  ever  increasing  strength. 

The  way  thus  far  has  been  rendered  more  pleasant  by  the  hand 
of  the  Lord  than  I  then  thought  possible  amid  such  dark  surround- 
ings. With  an  ever  realizing  sense  of  my  unworthiness  I  have  been 
kindly  led  in  the  way  of  life  and  am  eleven  years  nearer  my  eternal 
Home;  while  in  my  soul  there  is  the  (i peace  of  God  which  passeth 
all  understanding"  which  is  an  additional  evidence  of  the  faithful 
care  and  guidance  of  Jehovah.  During  the  last  decade  the  motto  of 
my  life  has  been,  as  through  future  years  it  shall  ever  be  (Isaiah 
26:4):  "  Trust  ye  in  the  Lord  forever,  for  in  the  Lord  Jehovah 
is  everlasting  strength. ' ' 

I  know  not  whether  earthly  freedom  will  ever  be  mine,  but  I  do 
know  that,  if  it  is  His  holy  and  righteous  will,  it  will  be  given  me; 
and  I  know  that  it  matters  little,  for  earthly  joys  must  soon  fade 
awsy,  and  down  at  the  close  of  the  earthly  journey  Jesus  is  waiting 
for  me.  And  with  my  weak  and  faltering  hand  laid  in  His  storng 
and  mighty  one  I  shall  walk  through  the  dark  waters  of  the  Jordan 
of  death,  and  with  Him  kindly  leading  His  rescued  child  we  shall 
enter  with  joy  and  eternal  thanksgiving  the  beautiful  "city  whose 
maker  and  builder  is  God." 

The  following  extracts  from  letters  written  me  at  differ- 
ent times  after  his  conversion  will,  I  believe,  interest  the 
reader : 

Waupun,  Wis.,  Sept.  5,  1891. 
Mrs.  E.  Wheaton: 

Dear  Christian  Friend:  No  news  received  since  you  were  here 
has  afforded  me  so  much  pleasure  as  the  announcement  of  your  re- 
turn. 

Tt  was  through  your  earnest  work  that  I  was  converted.  When 
you  came  here  before  there  was,  I  presume,  no  more  sinful,  hopeless, 
hardened,  miserable  wretch  inside  these  walls  than  myself.  When  I 
entered  the  prison  chapel  that  Sabbath  morning,  November  4,  1888, 
I  for  one  came  to  observe,  sneer  and  laugh.  But  while  you  were 
singing  that  glorious  anthem,  "Meet  Me  There,"  power  from  above 
opened  my  spiritual  vision  to  see  the  horrible  condition  of  my  soul, 
and  so  enabled  me  to  realize  my  great  need  of  divine  favor.  I  thank 


174  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

God  and  will  bless  His  holy  name  forever  that  in  His  infinite  wisdom 
and  kindness  He  brought  me  inside  these  walls  and  sent  you,  His 
chosen  instrument,  to  lead  my  wandering  sin-darkened  soul  into  the 
path  that  leadeth  unto  life  eternal. 

Amid  the  trials,  cares  and  vexations  of  the  passing  days  I  often 
look  up  to  the  blue  vault  of  heaven 's  dome  and  rejoice  at  the  thought 
that  the  flying  moments  and  hastening  hours  are  bringing  me  nearer, 
ever  nearer  to  the  blessed  hour  when  I  shall  meet  Jesus  face  to  face 
and  clasp  His  rescuing  hand,  never  from  Him  to  part.  Ah,  never 
to  part!  Thanks  unto  God  most  high. 

May  the  Lord  ever  bless  you,  my  dear  spiritual  Mother.  Good- 
bye. G.  H.  C. 

Waupun,  Wis.,  Oct.  29,  1891. 
My  Dear  Spiritual  Mother: 

Your  kind  letter  most  gladly  received.  I  am  surprised  that  our 
boys  do  not  write  more  frequently  to  you.  They  often  inquire  as  to 
your  whereabouts  and  health  and  ever  have  a  good  wrord  for  you  and 
your  work.  Even  many  who  do  not  care  for  their  soul's  salvation 
speak  favorably  of  Mrs.  Wheaton. 

God  knows  how  much  your  letters  cheer  me  and  brighten  the 
prison  gloom.  After  twenty  years  of  infidelity,  with  all  its  direful 
train  of  evils,  leading  on  from  bad  to  worse,  the  prison  gate  threw 
its  protective  barrier  between  society  and  one  who  had  become  almost 
a  devil  in  human  form,  thus  showing  that  a  just  God  had  taken  ac- 
count of  my  iniquitous  course  and  had  said,  ' '  Thus  far  and  no  far- 
ther. '•'  Then  followed  four  years  of  hopeless  misery,  borne  with  the 
sullen  stolidity  of  despair,  while  in  thought,  intent  and  purpose  I 
sank  lower  and  lower  into  the  horrible  cesspool  of  criminality,  and 
farther  and  farther  away  from  God.  Then,  in  His  infinite  mercy, 
He  sent  you  with  the  message  of  salvation,  which  He  crowned  with 
His  invincible  power  of  conviction  and  .a  realization  of  my  lost  and 
hopeless  condition. 

My  prayers  shall  ever  be  with  you,  dear  sister,  and  if  I  might  send 
a  message  by  you  to  all  the  prisoners  from  the  pine-shadowed  shores 
of  Maine  to  the  far  Alaskan  mountains  it  would  be  this:  "Ye  cap- 
tives, look  aloft  to  the  star  of  Bethlehem,  and  whatever  betide,  do 
not  fail  to  grasp  the  hand  stretched  out  to  you  from  Calvary. ' ' 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  175 

Hoping  to  hear  from  you  soon  and  praying  God  to  ever  bless  you  1 
remain,  Yours  for  God  and  humanity, 

G.    H.    COLGROVE. 


Waupun,  Wis.,  Sept.  4,  1892. 
My  Dear  Mother: 

How  many,  many  times  I  have  thanked  our  kind  Father  above  and 
praised  His  Holy  Name  for  sending  you  to  our  prison  gate  on  that 
November  night  in  1888.  Three  years  and  ten  months  ago  today  the 
radiant  light  of  Calvary,  fresh  from  the  throne  of  the  Infinite,  came, 
through  your  ministrations,  down  into  the  dark  recesses  of  my  sin- 
burdened  heart  and  crime-laden  soul,  while  mingled  with  the  music 
of  the  sweet  hymn  you  and  your  companion  were  singing  the  heaven- 
ly strains  of  an  angelic  accompaniment  so  entrancingly  and  irresisti- 
bly soothing  and  lovely  that  my  hardened  heart  melted  like  frost 
before  the  noonday  sun. 

Can  you  believe  that  I  stayed  to  that  after-meeting  when  every 
nerve  in  my  body  thrilled  to  get  up  and  run  out  of  the  chapel  I  Yes, 
I  desired  to  flee;  yet  an  irresistible  power  restrained  me.  I  know 
now  it  was  Satan  urging  me  to  flee  away  from  there;  for  he,  of 
course,  readily  understood  that  he  was  in  danger  of  losing  an  active 
member  from  his  minions  of  evil.  But  thanks  be  unto  Jehovah,  who 
ruleth  over  all,  Satan  failed.  God  and  His  servant  held  the  field 
and  a  soul  was  redeemed  from  death.  Glory  to  God  forever  and  ever. 
Amen. 

The  years  from  that  time  have  been  so  pleasant  and  bright,  though 
spent  where  sorrow,  misery  and  gloom  were  on  every  hand,  as  I  jour- 
ney on  to  our  beautiful  home  everlasting,  which  Jesus  has  gone  to 
prepare. 

"Filled   with  delight,  my  raptured  soul 

Would  here  no   longer  stay, 
Though   Jordan's   waves   around   me  roll 

Fearless  I   launch  away." 

"When  peace  like  a   river  attends  on  my  way 

Where  sorrows  like  sea  billows  roll, 
Whatever    my    lot,    thou    hast    taught    me    to    say 

It  is   well,  It  Is  well,   with  my  soul." 

"When  we've  been  there  ten  thousand  years, 

Bright  shinins  as  the  sun, 
We've  no   less  days   to  sing  his   praise 

Than  when  we.  first  begun." 

Yes,  since  your  first  visit  here  my  bark  of  life  has  been  "stand- 


176  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

ing  away ' '  on  her  new  course  over  the  sea  of  life,  and  she  is  now 
nearly  four  years  nearer  the  heavenly  harbor,  where  destructive  gales 
of  temptation  will  never  sweep  the  white  sails  of  purity  from  the 
1 1  masts  of  purpose, ' '  nor  break  the  ' '  yard  arms ' '  of  effort,  nor 
rolling  breakers  of  iniquity  dash  her  upon  the  rocky  shore  of  eternal 
.ruin. 

Mother,  pleaae  give  my  kindest  wishes  to  all  who  are  helping  you 
in  the  great  work  which  Jesus  established  while  on  earth  and  which 
He  left  for  us  to  continue  until  the  resounding  trump  and  advancing 
angel  hosts  proclaim  His  return  to  our  earth  to  claim  His  own  and 
crown  the  redeemed.  When  the  sullen  and  long  silent  graves  shall 
release  their  victims  and  the  long  absent  fleet  of  the  lower  ocean 
shall  again  whiten  the  seas  with  their  snowy  sails  and  bring  their 
passengers  and  crews  to  join  the  vast  congregation  assembled  before 
the  judgment  seat  of  Christ.  Ever  yours, 

G.  H.  C. 


Waupun,  Wis.,  Jan.  14,  1895. 
Dear  Mother: 

Your  kind  and  most  welcome  letter  very  gladly  receired.  It  is 
ever  one  of  my  chief  pleasures  to  hear  from  you. 

There  was  a  man  here  by  the  name  of  William  L.,  who  led  a  very 
godless  life,  being  extremely  profane.  During  the  past  summer  he 
was  transferred  to  the  prison  hospital.  On  September  4  I  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  sick  ward  as  assistant  steward,  and  I  found 
this  man  L.  in  here  when  I  took  charge  of  this  department.  He 
had  been  a  bitter  enemy  of  mine  for  several  years,  as  he  was  utterly 
opposed  to  Christianity,  and  he  tried  to  utterly  disregard  me.  I 
continued  to  treat  him  kindly,  which  was,  of  course,  a  Christian  duty 
which  we  owe  to  our  Heavenly  Father,  and  in  a  short  time  he  grew 
into  the  habit  of  calling  on  me  for  favors,  and  as  he  sank  lower  I 
spent  the  night  with  him.  One  evening  he  spoke  of  you  and  said: 
"Oh!  I  wish  I  could  hear  'Mother'  Wheaton  sing  one  of  her  sweet 
hymns. ' ' 

During  three  days  and  nights  he  continued  to  speak  of  you.  The 
last  day  on  which  he  mentioned  you  was  in  the  morning  about  8 
o  'clock.  While  sitting  in  his  chair  beside  the  bed  he  said  very  earn- 
estly and  emphatically:  "I  would  give  a  dollar  to  hear  'Mother' 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  1/7 

Wheaton  sing   one   of   her    sweet  hymns   just   now — right  here   and 
now. ' ' 

About  midnight  that  night  he  sat  in  his  bed  looking  upward  for 
some  time  in  silence  and  then  dropped  his  head  in  a  most  dejected 
manner  and  in  mournful  tone  exclaimed,  ' '  No,  no,  no. ' '  The  intense 
sadness  of  his  manner  made  my  heart  ache  for  him.  After  that  hour 
he  appeared  to  have  given  up  all  hope.  The  death  chill  came  on 
while  he  was  in  the  rocking  chair,  and  he  asked  me  to  assist  him  into 
bed  and  send  for  the  prison  physician.  He  expressed  himself  well 
satisfied  with  the  treatment  he  had  had  while  sick,  and  then,  seeing*  it 
was  too  hard  work  for  him  to  talk,  he  relapsed  into  silence,  while  I 
offered  a  silent  prayer  for  the  departing  soul. 

I  write  this  explanation  because  of  the  intense  desire  he  had 
to  see  you  and  hear  you  sing  once  more. 

The  Christian  Endeavor  still  exists  by  the  power  and  blessing  of 
Gcd,  and  my  Bible  class  is  continuing  and  some  good  has  been  ac- 
complished through  its  instrumentality. 

Rev.  B.  has  left  us.  Our  new  spiritual  guide  and  counselor  is 
Eev.  Simerville,  an  earnest  Christian,  whose  influence  bids  fair  to 
lead  many  hitherto  careless  ones  to  turn  their  footsteps  in  the 
straight  and  narrow  path  that  leads  to  life.  The  beacon  light  to 
Calvary  cheers  us  on  every  day  to  our  eternal  home.  Meet  me  there. 
Good-bye,  Mother.  God  bless  you  now  and  ever. 

G.  H.  COLGROVE. 

Waupun,  Wis.,  Nov.  28,  1895. 
Dearest  Mother: 

Your  kind  and  welcome  letter  gladly  received.  Brother  Albert 
wrote  you  yesterday  and  I  sincerely  hope  the  invitation  extended 
to  you  by  the  chaplain  and  contained  in  Albert 's  letter,  will  be 
promptly  acted  upon  and  that  we  shall  soon  behold  your  face  among 
us  once  more  and  again  hear  the  songs  of  Zion  fall  from  your  lips. 

Albert  is  librarian  and  the  chaplain's  assistant, , while  this  child 
is  assistant  steward  at  the  hospital;  thus  we  shall  be  able  to  meet 
you  frequently  if  you  will  spend  a  couple  of  weeks  with  us,  and  a 
forty-day  month  can  be  used  to  good  advantage  in  Waupun  and 
visiting  among  the  bad  boys  like  us,  and  your  many  good  friends  in 
this  locality. 

The  Lord  has  given  us  a  Christian  man  for  warden  and  I  can 


178  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

tell  you,  dear  Mother,  we  find  that  the  warden,  the  chaplain  and 
the  Lord  God  Almighty  make  a  strong  combination.  If  ''Mother 
Wheaton"  will  come  and  join  them  the  quartette  will  be  complete 
and  this  prison  can  receive  such  a  baptism  of  grace  that  his  satanic 
majesty  will  hate  the  very  name  of  Waupun. 

God's  blessing  ever  be  yours  and  hoping  to  meet  you  once  more 
this  side  the  golden  gate, 

I   am  your  spiritual  son, 

G.  H.  COLGROVE. 

The  following  short  extract  is  from  a  letter  to  a  brother 
who  had  become  interested  in  Brother  Colgrove  and  had 
written  him: 

Waupun,  Wis.,  April  30,  1897. 
Mr.  H ,  Dear  Christian  Brother. 

Your  kind  letter  received,  and  I  most  sincerely  hope  it  may  be 
preliminary  to  a  long  continued  and  beneficial  correspondence.  It 
will  ever  be  a  pleasure  to  hear  from  you,  so  please  write  when 
convenient,  and  I  will  do  as  well  as  my  adverse  surroundings  will 
permit. 

I  am  pleased  to  learn  of  the  continued  successful  work  of  dear 
' '  Mother  Wheaton, ' '  and  it  is  a  source  of  great  encouragement  to 
me  ,to  meet  and  converse  with  Sister  Kelley.  We  shall  undoubtedly 
have  her  for  a  spiritual  leader  when  our  toil-worn  "Mother"  has 
been  summoned  to  her  rest  and  reward  by  the  great  Master. 

Please  write  soon  and  often  to  Your  friend, 

G.  H.  COLGROVE. 

Waupun,  Wis.,  Oct.  25,  1897. 
Dear  Mother: 

Your  kind  and  most  welcome  letter  gladly  received  and  the 
unexpected  photo  was  a  very  delightful  surprise.  A  thousand  thanks. 
I  have  many,  many  times  wished  I  had  a  picture  of  the  one  whom 
God  selected  as  my  helper  to  lead  me  from  the  dark  valley  of  despair 
in  which  I  was  then  dwelling  up  into  the  radiant  light  of  Calvary. 

November  4th  next  will  complete  nine  years  of  the  homeward 
journey  since  Jesus  set  my  face  Zionward,  so  we  are  nine  years 
nearer  the  heavenly  shore  and  from  the  watch  tower  of  the  golden 


OR   A    LABOR  OF   LOVE 

city  the  beacon  light  beams  bright  and  fair,  welcoming  us  into 
the  port  of  peace.  Our  duties  are  pressing,  time  is  flying,  the 
whistle  and  signal  bells  are  sounding,  and  I  must  close  for  this  time. 

Kindly  and  sincerely  yours, 

G.    H.    COLGROVE. 

In  1897,  as  indicated  in  the  two  following  letters  especial 
effort  was  made  to  secure  Brother  Colgrove's  pardon,  which 
I  believe  would  have  been  successful  but  for  lack  of  wis- 
dom on  the  part  of  some  of  his  friends.  As  it  was  Brother 
C.  was  doomed  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  bondage. 


Waupun,  Wis.,  Oct.  10,  1897. 
Dear  Mother: 

When  you  were  here  you  offered  to  call  on  the  Governor  of  Wis- 
consin in  my  behalf.  I  thank  you  a  thousand  times  for  that  kind- 
ness. 

Since  you  were  here  I  have  been  promoted  to  the  position  of 
prison  librarian.  That  places  me  in  the  Chaplain's  office,  and  it  is 
the  position  occupied  by  the  Washburn  banker  when  you  were  here. 

I  have  received  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Worcester  in  Natal,  South 
Africa,  lately.  It  was  just  thirty-five  days  in  coming  through.  It 
was  intensely  interesting.  One  of  our  boys  died  last  night  and  two 
life  members  have  died  since  you  were  here.  One  was  a  Christian. 

Dear  Mother,  the  enclosed  card  shows  date,  locality  and  offense. 
I  have  been  here  over  twelve  years,  and  have  a  clear  prison  record. 
My  Christian  work  you  are  well  versed  in,  as  you  were  God's  chosen 
instrument  for  my  conversion.  Nine  years  of  Christian  life  on  NOT. 
4th  next. 

If  possible  please  inform  me  when  you  will  be  in  Madison,  and 
may  our  Heavenly  Father  bless  you,  and  crown  your  effort  with  suc- 
cess. My  papers  are  all  in  the  executive  chambers  at  Madison.  I 
have  recommendations  from  many  parties,  and  from  my  trial  judge, 
Hon.  A.  Scott  Sloan.  My  jury  did  not  support  my  application,  but 
the  judge  did.  He  is  now  dead,  but  he  gave  me  a  splendid  letter, 
and  it  should  be  just  as  effective.  I  shall  have  to  ask  you  to  wait 
for  your  reward,  until  freedom  conies  to  me,  and  then  you  will  not 


l8o  PRISONS  "AND    PRAYER 

be   forgotten.     I   hope   Sister  Kelley  can  accompany  you  on  your 
Madison  trip. 

I  received  a  letter  from  your  friend  Miss  Josephine  Cowgill,  Jeru- 
salem, with  several  cards  of  Palestine  flowers;   those  that   grew  in 
Mount  Olivet  I  have  framed  and  they  are  hanging  in  our  office.' 
I  am  on  duty  from  5  a.  m.  to  9  p.  m. 

Sincerely  and  kindly  yours, 

G.  H.  COLGROVE. 


Waupun,  Wis.,  Nov.  7,  1897. 
Dear  Mother: 

Inclosed  please  find  copy  of  letter  just  received  from  Executive 
Clerk.  It  will  be  useful  perhaps  as  a  reference  when  you  reach 
Madison.  The  entire  recommendation  from  my  judge  is  there  as  is 
stated  herein.  My  judge  is  now  deceased.  A  letter  received  today 
from  ex-Chaplain  T.  J.  Brown,  now  of  Lancaster,  Wisconsin,  informs 
me  that  he  will  gladly  meet  you  at  Madison,  and  assist  you  in  any  way 
possible.  One  of  our  officers  is  also  making  arrangements  with  a 
Madison  party  to  join  you  at  that  time.  So  we  seem  well  favored 
and  I  regard  it  as  indicative  of  divine  favor,  for  all  the  present 
participants  are  Christians  and  we  may  therefore  hope  for  especial 
favor  from  our  heavenly  Father. 

The  Lord  be  with  you  in  all  your  ways.     As  ever, 

Sincerely  yours, 
G.  H.  COLGROVE. 

The  enclosed  letter  read  as  follows: 

Executive  Chamber,  Madison,  Wis.,  Nov.  4,  1897. 
Mr.  G.  H.  Colgrove,  State  Prison,  Waupun. 

My  Dear  Sir:  I  have  looked  up  the  matter  about  which  you  wrote 
me  on  Oct.  21st,  and  find  there  is  a  letter  from  Judge  Sloan  among 
your  papers.  This  letter  says,  among  other  things:  "If  it  be  true 
that  Mr.  Colgrove  has  behaved  himself  well  during  his  imprisonment 
and  has  thoroughly  reformed,  I  think  he  ought  to  be  pardoned. ' ' 

Yours  truly, 

WM.  J.  ANDERSON,  Private  Secretary. 
Waupun,  Wis.,  May  1,  1901. 
Dear  Mother  and  Sister: 

Your  kind  letters  of  24th  ult,  duly  at  hand,  and  as  you  wrote  in 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  l8l 

unison,  J  nope  this  companion  letter  will  be  acceptable.  I  am  pleased 
to  learn  that  your  book  work  is  progressing  and  will  soon  be  launched 
upon  the  restless  sea  of  activity,  and  accomplishing  good  work 
under  the  divine  blessing,  leading  souls  into  the  light  that  never 
shall  fade  while  Eternity  rolls  its  unending  years.  Sorry  that  so 
much  sickness  and  suffering  has  fallen  to  the  lot  of  each  of  you, 
but  rejoice  that  it  is  passed  and  can  not  assail  you  again  in  this 
world,  and  in  the  world  to  come  " There  shall  be  no  more  pain; 
for  the  former  things  are  passed  away. ' '  There,  the  cheeks  which 
we  here  beheld  pale  with  suffering  and  tear-stained  by  sorrow,  will 
be  mantling  with  the  rich  glow  of  everlasting  health  and  radiant  in 
the  matchless  loveliness  of  deathless  bloom.  A  refreshing  rain  has 
broken  a  long  drouth  here,  and  the  world  looks  lovely  and  sparkling 
in  the  golden  sunlight  this  beautiful  May  morning.  As  we  behold 
the  face  of  the  earth  beautified  by  the  hand  of  God,  it  is  a  source 
of  regret  that  all  this  harmony  of  nature,  this  smiling  peace  and 
bloom,  is  marred  and  clouded  by  the  dark  stain  which  iniquity  has 
brought  into  this  fair  world;  and  the  sad,  stern  fact  confronts  us, 
that  "The  dark  places  of  the  earth  are  full  of  the  habitations  of 
cruelty. ' '  But  it  is  true.  Peace  in  its  entirety,  and  purity  in  divine 
perfection,  are  fled  from  this  world,  and  we  cannot  possess  them  in 
full  until  we  have  passed  beyond  Jordan's  cold  wave  and  through 
the  dark  portals  which  intervene  between  this  sin-darkened  land 
and  the  glory  crowned  hills  of  Immanuel  's  Land.  But  it  is  a  soul- 
cheering  fact  that  we  are  daily  and  hourly  nearing  that  blest  clime 
where  sin  and  sorrow  can  no  more  cast  the  cloud  of  estrangement 
between  us  and  the  Divine  Master  who  arose  triumphant  over  sin 
and  death  and  in  His  eternal  majesty  and  power  has  gone  to  prepare 
for  our  home  .coming. 

Though  our  barque  of  life  may  be  tossed  by  violent  seas  of  strife, 
and  meet  with  disaster  in  various  forms,  so  long  as  we  know  that 
Jesus  is  awaiting  us  in  the  Harbor  of  Peace  we  are  not  dismayed  by 
the  howling  blast  nor  raging  billows  of  earthly  storm,  but  relying  on 
His  unfailing  promise  we  keep  in  mind  the  coming  greeting  of  the 
great  Master  and  remember 

"By  cool  Slloam's  shady  rill 

How  fair  the  Illy  grows  ; 
How  sweet  the  breath  beneath  the  hill 

Of  Sharon's  dewy  rose." 


l82  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Yes,  Mother,  I  too  am  glad  and  thankful  that  the  Lord  sent  you 
to  Waupun  and  into  our  chapel  on  that  glorious  autumn  morning, 
Nov.  4,  1888.  Surely  the  good  work  then  accomplished  has  not  been 
extinguished,  although  Satan  has  exerted  himself  to  cast  dark  clouds 
of  misunderstanding,  strife  and  contention  over  it  all.  But  the  light 
of  Calvary  shines  amid  the  gloom,  the  heavenly  sheen  of  the  cross  of 
Christ  sheds  a  halo  of  undying  and  imperishable  glory  over  all,  that 
like  the  pillar  of  fire  that  led  the  hosts  of  Israel  through  the  wilder- 
ness, will  lead  and  sustain  each  weary  heart,  until  we  arrive  on  Jor- 
dan's  banks,  and  raise  the  song  of  everlasting  triumph,  as  we  view 
our  eternal  home. 

With  kind  regards  to  each,  and  best  wishes  for  your  happiness  and 
welfare,  I  remain, 

Sincerely   and  kindly   yours, 

G.    H.    COLGROVE. 

The  following  letter  from  a  dear  sister  who  is  deeply  in- 
terested in  prison  work  is  inserted  here  because  of  its  ref- 
erence to  Brother  Colgrove: 

Minneapolis,  Minn.,  Dec.    19,    1900. 
My  Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

I  cannot  tell  you  how  very  glad  I  was  to  hear  from  you;  and 
to  know  that  you  have  been  blest  all  along  the  way,  is  indeed  good 
news.  Some  one  asked  the  question,  "What  is  the  best  thing  that 
can  be  said  of  a  friend?"  Many  answers  were  given,  one  good  one 
being  "He  rests  me,"  but  the  best  answer  was  "He  inspires  me." 
This  can  be  truly  said  of  you.  No  one  more  than  yourself  inspires  me 
to  live  a  true  Christian  life.  I  do  want  to  be  ready  at  all  times  to 
serve  Christ. 

"Just  ready  to  do   His  bidding, 

If  only  I  do  His  will. 

Then  I  will  be  ready  to  meet  him 

When  shadows  flee  away 

Ready  to  serve  Him  perfectly 

When  dawns  eternal  day." 

Last  week  we  had  another  meeting  at  the  Soldiers '  Home.  You 
cannot  imagine  how  we  missed  you.  So  many  of  the  sick  men 
inquired  for  you.  One  said  if  you  would  only  come  back  he  would 
shout  for  joy.  Of  course  it  made  me  very  happy  to  know  that  they 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  183 

had  received  such  a  blessing  from  your  talk.  This  same  man  said  he 
had  prayed  for  you  every  night. 

The  young  man  that  called  for  you  to  come  out  to  see  him  in  the 
jail  was  sent  to  St.  Cloud  for  two  and  a  half  years.  The  poor 
colored  man  was  sent  to  State 's  Prison  at  Stillwater  for  five  years. 

The  strangest  thing  has  happened  since  the  last   time  Mrs.  

was  at  Waupun.  Mr.  Colgrove  's  wife,  whom  he  had  not  heard  from 
for  twelve  years,  has  been  to  see  him.  His  young  lady  daughter, 
whom  he  thought  dead,  is  living.  Is  not  that  precious  news?  I 
am  sure  Mr.  Colgrove  must  be  the  happiest  man  inside  of  these  walls 
just  now.  Had  a  good  letter  from  S.  yesterday. 

I  have  Christmas  cards  for  all  of  the  women  and  some  for  the  men 
in  the  prison.  Must  say  good  bye. 

Your  sincere  friend  and  sister  in  Christ, 

GERTRUDE  M. 

From  an  editorial  written  by  Brother  Colgrove  while  ed- 
itor of  the  Christian  Endeavor  Department  of  the  prison 
paper  published  at  Waupun,  we  clip  the  fol-towing : 

Perhaps  our  uninformed  friends  may  infer  that  we  advocate  the 
abolition  of  all  punishment  in  penal  institutions.  Not  at  all,  brother; 
nothing  so  absurd.  But  we  do  claim  and  will  maintain  to  our  dying 
hour  that  punishment  should  be  judicious,  and  only  when  the  culprit 
will  not  heed  any  humane  treatment  nor  be  influenced  by  admonition. 

When  punishment  and  imposition  are  used  at  the  mere  caprice 
of  some  low  down  scoundrel,  instead  of  discretionary  treatment, 
at  the  behest  cf  a  man  of  sense,  reason  and  upright  principle,  the 
effect  has  ever  been,  and  will  ever  be,  to  develop  the  worst  traits  in- 
herent in  the  nature  of  the  individual  whom  the  laws  have  already 
prono'unced  unsafe,  and  when  released,  the  consequences  of  that 
development,  are  going  to  fall  on  some  innocent  and  unoffending 
member  of  the  law-abiding  class.  When  we  consider  the  vast  amount 
of  mischief  which  one  criminal  can  accomplish  in  an  incredibly  short 
space  of  time,  have  we  riot  cause  to  be  thankful  that  all  over  our 
land  are  self-sacrificing  souls,  brave  men  and  women,  who  are  deter- 
mined in  the  face  of  all  opposition,  ridicule  and  every  evil,  to  use 
every  possible  means  within  their  power,  to  elevate  and  reform  all 
of  the  criminal  class,  who  may  by  any  means  be  led  from  the  old 


184  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

path  of  sorrow  and  misery  to  themselves  and  danger  to  the  peace  and 
well-being  of  their  brother  men? 

Men  and  women  who  will  place  in  the  hand  of  the  prisoner  the 
Bible,  in  exchange  for  the  revolver,  dagger  and  bottle?  The  citizen 
in  his  quiet  home,  who  is  unacquainted  with  the  prison  systems  of 
the  various  forms  which  are  being  used  in  different  states,  depends 
entirely  upon  the  laws  of  the  land  to  secure  him  in  the  peaceful  pos- 
session of  his  accumulated  earnings.  But  experience  proves  that 
human  law  alone  and  unassisted  by  higher  power  is  not  sufficient  to 
guard  the  home  from  intrusion  and  desecration  by  those  who  have 
no  regard  for  right  principles.  The  man  who  has  criminal  tendencies, 
and  is  not  striving  to  restrain  them  in  conformity  to  divine  law,  will 
laugh  the  human  power  to  scorn,  and  trample  the  law  of  man  under 
his  feet  whenever  there  seems  an  opportunity  of  financial  gain  there- 
by. The  man  who  has  been  led  to  observe  and  rightly  regard  the 
divine  law  will  have  no  occasion  for  inducement  for  infringing  on  the 
laws  of  the  land.  Therefore  these  reformers,  both  clergy  and  laity, 
are  striking  at  the  very  root  of  crime,  when  they  lift  the  fallen 
out  of  the  slough  of  vice  and  iniquity,  and  turn  his  face  toward  the 
higher  life  and  the  city  ft  whose  maker  and  builder  is  God." 

During  the  fall  of  1903  I  received  several  letters  telling 
me  that  Brother  George  Colgrove  could  live  but  a  short 
time.  In  December,  1903,  I  visited  again  the  prison  at 
Waupun.  I  found  Brother  Colgrove  in  the  Prison  Hospital, 
very  weak  in  body,  but  peaceful  and  resting  in  the  Saviour's 
love.  Once  more  he  related  to  the  young  sister  who  was 
with  "me  the  wonderful  story  of  his  con-version;  and  how 
for  over  fifteen  years  he  had  been  kept  by  the  power  of 
God,  saved  and  filled  with  love  for  God  and  souls.  We 
knelt  and  prayed  with  him  and  sang  his  favorite  hymns  and 
as  I  bade  him  farewell  he  said,  "Sister,  if  we  never  meet 
on  earth  again  I  will  meet  you  in  Heaven." 

That  was  our  final  parting.  Brief  notes  from  the  chaplain 
and  warden  informed  me  that  Brother  Colgrove  died  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1904,  and  that  funeral  services  (an  unusual  thing) 


OR   A   LABOR   OF   LOVE  185 

were  held  in  the  prison  chapel  February  21.  The  warden's 
letter  contains  this  testimony.  "He  died  a  Christian." 

Bless  God  for  his  sustaining  grace  that  is  sufficient  even 
amid  the  trials  of  a  prison  life  and  enabled  this  one  of  his 
children  to  prove  true  to  God  for  so  many  years,  inside  of 
prison  walls! 

O  how  wonderful  is  the  power  of  God  to  seek  and  to 
save  that  which  was  lost ! 


CHAPTER  XL 

Work  in  Stockades  and  Prison  Camps  in  Southern 
States. 

During  the  first  years  of  my  missionary  work  I  was  led 
to  stay  much  of  the  time  in  the  South.  I  was  learning  les- 
sons in  patience,  faith  and  humility  before  God.  The  cross 
was  very  heavy.  In  many  places  I  was  not  allowed  to  stay 
with  white  people  if  I  preached  to  the  negroes.  THE  RACE 
QUESTION  ran  high  and  the  color  line  was  very  closely 
drawn.  In  those  days  I  could  not  understand  why  this 
should  be.  I  was  taught  in  the  word  of  God  that  all  na- 
tions were  made  of  one  blood  and  that  God  was  the  Father 
of  us  all.  I  was  ignorant  and  the  views  of  the  southern  peo- 
ple were  new  to  me.  In  many  cases,  perhaps,  I  offended 
them  when  I  might  have  avoided  it.  I  knew  no  better  and 
they  often  thought  me  obstinate.  But  I  was  only  obeying 
God  the  very  best  I  knew  in  trying  to  keep  immortal  souls 
out  of  hell,  and  I  knew  that  I  must  obey  God  though  all 
the  people  should  misunderstand  and  misjudge  me.  I 
found  nearly  all  of  the  prisoners  of  the  South  confined  in 
Stockades  and  Prison  Camps.  In  many  cases  the  prisons 
themselves  were  almost  empty. 

The  following  are  from  among  the  many  letters  of  intro- 
duction and  recommendation,  received  while  laboring  in  the 
southern  states: 


Montgomery,  Ala.,  Dec.  30,  1884. 
Col.  J.  T.  Milner,  Superintendent. 

Dear  Sir:    This  will  be  handed  you  by   Mrs.   Wheaton,  who  is  a 
prison  missionary.     She  has  been  having  religious  exercises   at  the 


l88  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

various  prisons   in  the  state,   and   I   respectfully   request    that   you 
will  permit  her  to  do  so  at  New  Castle.  Yours  truly, 

R.  H.  DAWSON, 
President  Board  of  Inspectors  of  Prisons. 


Raleigh,  N.  C.,  June  10,  1893.  " 

Gulf,  N.  C.,  C.  F.  &  Y.  V.  Railroad,  Halifax  farm  (near  Weldon)  ; 

Captain   Bradshaw    (near   Weldon) ;    Captain   McMurray    (near 

Weldon,    on    canal) ;    Captain    Mclver    (near    Tillery) ;    Captain 

Hamlet  (near  Tillery) ;  Captain  Lashley  (near  Castle  Hayne). 

The   superintendent    desires    that    every   courtesy   be    shown    Mrs. 

Wheaton  and  Mrs. ,  and  that  they  be  given  opportunities  to  talk 

to  the  prisoners. 

JNO.   M.   FLEMING,   Warden. 


Rusk,  Texas,  Jan.  9,  1888. 
Mr.  George  Egbart,  Coling  Camp. 

Dear  Sir:  This  will  introduce  to  you  Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton, 
prison  missionary,  who  is  making  a  tour  through  southern  prisons. 
She  passed  the  day  with  me  yesterday  in  the  prison.  I  was  pleased 
with  her  manner  and  with  her  talk  to  the  men.  She  wants  the 
privilege  of  talking  with  your  men  today  at  the  dinner  hour.  I 
think  you  will  be  pleased  with  her.  Please  give  her  the  necessary 
attention  and  may  God  bless  you,  bless  her  effort,  and  bless  the 
men.  J.  C.  WOOLAM,  Chaplain. 


EXECUTIVE   DEPARTMENT   OF  ALABAMA. 
Convict  Bureau. 

Pratt  Mines,  Ala.,  Nov.  30,  1889. 

Mr.  Thomas  C.  Dawson,  Warden  of  State  Prison,  Wetumptka,  Ala. 
Dear   Tom:    This  letter  .will  introduce  to  you   Mrs.   Elizabeth  R. 

Wheaton  and  Mrs.  ,  two  ladies  who  are  devoting  their  lives  to 

the  benefit  of  convicts  all  over  the  United  States. 

These  good  ladies  have  done  much  good,  and  they  should  be 
treated  with  every  consideration.  Give  them  rooms  and  access  to 
your  convicts  at  both  prisons.  I  hope  a  visit  from  them  will  result 
in  much  good.  Your  Father, 

R.  H.  DAWSON, 
President  Board  of  Inspectors. 


OR   A   LABOR   OF   LOVE  189 

Huntsville  Penitentiary,  Huntsville,  Texas,  Jan.  13,  1892. 
Capt.  Abercrombie,  Wynne  Farm. 

Dear  Sir:  This  will  introduce  to  you  Mrs.  Wheaton,  who  wishes 
to  talk  to  your  men  in  a  body.  Any  courtesies  shown  her  will  be 
appreciated  by  me.  Yours  truly, 

J.  G.  SMITHER,  Asst.  Supt. 


STATE  OF  NOKTH  CAROLINA. 

Executive  Department,  Raleigh,  June  9,  1893. 
Hon.  A.  Deazer,  Supt.  State 's  Prison. 

Dear  Sir:  This  introduces  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton,  prison 
evangelist.  I  have  assured  her  that  you  will  grant  any  request 
she  may  make  not  in  conflict  with  prison  rules. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

ELIAS  CARR,  Governor. 


STATE  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

Executive  Department,  Raleigh,  June  15,  1893. 
His  Excellency,  B.  R.  Tillman,  Governor  of  South  Carolina, 

Columbia,  S.  C. 
Dear  Sir:  I  have  the  honor  and  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  state  that 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton  and  Mrs.  ,  prison  evangelists,  have 

held  religious  services  at  the  penitentiary  farm  and  at  the  peniten- 
tiary and  have  given  satisfaction  to  the  authorities  in  both  places, 
and  it  is  thought  that  their  services  were  productive  of  great  good. 
With  highest  esteem,  I  am,  Very  truly  yours, 

ELIAS  CARR,  Governor. 

STATE  OF  ALABAMA. 

Executive  Department,  Montgomery,  April  3,  1896. 
To  all  Wardens  of  Prisons  withki  the  State: 

Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton,  the  bearer  hereof,  is  a  prison  evangelist, 
and  well  recommended  as  a  good  lady.  She  is  desirous  of  holding 
services  in  the  prisons.  Any  courtesy  shown  her  will  be  proper  and 
commendable.  WILLIAM  C.  OAKES,  Governor. 


STATE  OF  GEORGIA. 
Penitentiary  Department,  Atlanta,  Georgia,  June  30,  1893. 


IQO  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

To  the   Captains  in  Charge  of   Convict  Camps  in  Georgia: 

1   desire  that  each  of  you  extend  to  these  ladies,   Mrs.  Wheaton 

and  Mrs.  any  courtesies  possible  during  their  stay  with  you, 

that  they  may  be  given  opportunities  to  talk  to  the  men  and  women 
in  your  charge.  I  will  particularly  appreciate  any  kindness  shown 
them.  The  governor  requests  that  they  be  shown  courtesies. 

GEORGE  H.  JONES,  Principal  Keeper. 


Penitentiary,  Columbia,  S.  C.,  August  11,  1893. 
Mother  Wheaton. 

Dear  Madam:  It  affords  me  much  pleasure  to  say  that  we  were 
glad  to  have  you  come  down  to  the  prison  and  visit  other  camps 
connected  therewith,  and  we  believe  that  you  have  done  lasting  good 
among  the  prisoners.  Yours  truly, 

W.  A.  NEAL,  Superintendent. 

Accompanying  the  above  was  a  list  of  the  convict  camps 
connected  with  the  prison  with  the  following  order: 

The  sergeant  in  charge  of  the  above  camps  will  please  admit  Mrs. 
E.  R.  Wheaton  and  Mrs.  and  allow  them  to  hold  religious  ser- 
vice at  the  camp  with  the  convicts.  W.  A.  NEAL. 


STATE  OF  FLORIDA. 

Executive  Department,  Tallahassee,  April  21,  1894. 
Messrs.  West  Bros.,  West  Farm,  Fla. 

Gentlemen:  This  will  be  presented  by  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rider 
Wheaton,  prison  evangelist,  who  is  visiting  the  convict  camps  of  the 
state.  Any  courtesies  and  kindness  extended  to  her  will  be  duly 
appreciated  and  reciprocated  by,  Yours  very  respectfully, 

D.  LANG,  Private  Secretary. 

STATE  OF  GEORGIA. 

Penitentiary  Department,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  March  21,  1896. 
To  the  Captains  in  Charge  of  Convict  Camps  in  Georgia: 

I  desire  that  each  of  you  extend  to  Mrs.  Wheaton  and  Mrs.  

any  courtesies  possible  during  their  stay  with  you,  that  they  may 
have  an  opportunity  to  talk  with  the  prisoners.  Any  kindness  shown 
them  will  be  appreciated  by  this  office. 

JAKE  C.  MOORE,  Assistant  Keeper  Penitentiary. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  IQI 

Executive  Department,  Governor's   Office,  Jackson,  Miss. 
Mr.  J.  J.  Evans,  Jr.,  Penitentiary. 

Dear  Sir:  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wheaton,  who  is  interested  in  reform 
work,  desires  to  talk  to  the  convicts.  Any  courtesy  shown  her  will 
be  highly  appreciated.  Very  truly  yours, 

J.  J.  COMAN,  Governor's  Sec. 

A    STOCKADE. 

Many  inquire  of  me  what  a  stockade  or  prison  camp  is.  I 
will  here  explain.  A  man,  or  party  of  men,  lease  or  hire 
from  the  state  the  labor  of  a  certain  number  of  prisoners  for 
a  certain  length  of  time.  They  are  "doing  time,"  as  the 
prisoners  say,  for  the  state.  Both  men  and  women  are  thus 
leased  out.  Their  labor  is  used  in  clearing  up  land,  working 
in  cotton  and  sugar  cane  fields,  in  mines,  in  turpentine 
camps,  in  building  railroads,  on  brick-yards,  in  phosphate 
works  or  in  any  place  where  a  company  can  work  together. 
Their  food  consists  mostly  of  swine's  flesh  and  corn  bread 
made. with  meal,  water  and  salt. 

The  stockades  are  large  rough  wooden  buildings,  erected 
by  the  lessee,  in  which  the  prisoners  are  confined  at  night. 
The  men  are  generally  chained  by  one  ankle  to  a  heavy 
chain  which  reaches  through  the  center  of  the  building  from 
one  end  to  the  other,  being  securely  fastened  to  strong  posts. 
They  usually  sleep  on  the  floor  in  the  same  clothing  worn 
through  the  day — which  is  generally  very  scant  and  poor; 
but  sometimes  they  may  have  a  bunk  and  a  rough  dirty 
blanket.  The  stockade  is  guarded  by  men  with  loaded 
guns,  and  besides  this  every  camp  is  abundantly  supplied 
with  great,  strong  bloodhounds.  And  woe  to  the  unfor- 
tunate criminal  that  must  be  tracked  and  caught  by  them ! 

Each  prison  camp  has  its  mode  of  punishment  for  those 
who  break  the  rules  or  fail  to  do  as  much  as  is  allotted  to 


IQ2  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

them.  The  keepers  of  past  years  were  often  very  cruel  in 
their  treatment,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  the  punishment  which 
they  inflicted  upon  those  under  their  control.  These  poor 
souls  had  no  way  of  redress.  If  they  should  speak  of  the 
cruelty,  they  would  be  treated  far  worse ;  the  penalty  for 
such  a  complaint  being  a  severe  whipping.  Oh,  God,  how 
long  shall  the  cry  of  the  prisoner  be  heard?  Lord  Jesus, 
come  quickly ! 

Each  camp  has  its  officers,  guards,  etc.,  among  whom  is 
the  whipping  boss.  And  God  pity  the  man  or  woman  who 
falls  into  his  cruel  hands.  There  is  a  board  of  prison  in- 
spectors, the  president  of  which  travels  from  place  to  place 
looking  after  the  interests  of  all.  The  conditions  of  the 
stockades  are  much  improved  since  I  first  went  among  them 
years  ago.  I  have  gone  tp  the  governors  of  different  states 
and  pleaded  for  the  betterment  of  conditions  in  the  prisons. 
Especially  have  I  asked  that  the  women  might  have  better 
treatment  and  not  be  whipped  so  brutally  for  slight  offenses 
or  violation  of  the  rules  which  the  lessee  is  allowed  to  make. 
Upon  one  occasion  I  wrote  the  governor  of  a  certain  state 

as  follows: 

Washington,  D.  C.,  May  10,  18—. 

To  His  Excellency  the  Governer  of  — — . 

Dear  Brother :  I  write  in  behalf  of  the  prisoners  in  your  state  prison 
at  B.  M.  I  find  them  greatly  in  need  of  food  and  clothing.  The 
sick  prisoners  are  suffering  with  hunger.  I  held  services  there  one 
week  ago  today,  and  went  into  the  kitchen  myself  to  see  what  there 
was  for  sixteen  sick  men  and  those  who  are  supposed  to  wait  on  them, 
and  I  found  only  one  half  gallon  of  milk  a  day  for  all,  one  chicken, 
very  poor  bread,  no  vegetables,  no  fruits,  and  no  seasoning  but 
salt.  Who  is  to  blame  for  this?  I  find  you  feed  those  prisoners 
(miners  and  farmers)  on  seven  cents  a  day. 

It  is  an  outrage,  a  sin,  a  curse  on  this  nation,  the  suffering  you 
men,  you  governors  or  officers,  at  least  allow  to  exist  in  prison  walls. 
You  permit  those  men  in  B.  M.  prison  to  be  whipped  for  not  furnish- 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  193 

ing  daily  from  three  to  five  small  car  loads  of  coal  each,  and  feed 
them  on  food  not  sufficient  to  give  them  strength  to  perform  that 
amount  of  labor.  God  help  you,  my  friend!  As  you  are  the  first 
officer  of  the  state  you  should  see  that  this  inhuman  treatment  ia 
stopped. 

Forty  men  were  whipped  in  one  day  on  two  occasions,  and  on  an 
average  there  are  from  six  to  eight  every  day.  These  men  are  not 
murmuring,  I  gave  them  no  chance  to  tell  me  of  this.  But  the  offi- 
cers and  their  wives  told  me.  I  saw  with  my  own  eyes.  The  water 
in  those  mountains  is  very  impure  and  many  of  the  men  have  died 
from  mere  neglect.  Many  more  will  die  soon  unless  something  is 
done  for  their  relief.  Governor,  for  God 's  sake,  please  look  after 
the  temporal  interests  of  your  prisoners.  I  would  have  come  to  you 
face  to  face  and  talked  these  things  over  if  possible.  Eecently  I 
have  been  to  see  governors  of  several  of  the  different  states.  They 
are  not  aware  of  the  treatment  of  convicts  in  their  own  states,  but 
I  have  seen  it  all  these  years  of  my  pilgrimage.  The  awful  suffering 
I  Bee  is  just  breaking  my  heart.  Poor  lost  men  and  women!  Who 
is  responsible  for  the  sin  and  crime  and  suffering?  Largely  the 
saloon.  Men  and  women  are  born  in  sin  and  conceived  in  inquity; 
shut  in  for  years  and  years  for  some  little  crime,  and  subjected  to 
the  hardest  labor,  serving  out  sentence  in  prison  under  whip  and  lash. 
It  is  inhuman  and  unjust.  What  will  God  Almighty  require  of  you 
and  me  in  the  day  of  judgment?  For  surely  we  must  meet  it  and 
answer  for  our  stewardship  here  on  earth.  May  God  help  me  to 
deal  faithfully  and  do  my  duty  by  all  classes — to  those  in  authority  as 
well  as  those  in  bondage.  Now,  understand  me,  I  have  no  personal 
grievances  to  bring  to  you.  It  is  simply  mismanagement  and  the 
desire  to  run  these  prisons  on  as  cheap  a  scale  as  possible,  to  save 
money  for  the  State  and  hold  position;  and  something  must  be 
done  soon. 

I  told  the  men  to  be  obedient  and  faithfully  discharge  their  duty  as 
prisoners.  In  all  my  work  in  every  state  and  territory,  Europe, 
Mexico  and  Canada,  I  have  never  had  any  trouble;  and  can  go  again 
to  all  these  prisons  where  I  have  held  services.  What  object  have 
I?  None,  but  the  good  of  the  souls  and  bodies  of  those  in  bonds. 
They  are  my  children,  given  me  by  the  Lord!,  and  I  feel  as  much  com- 
passion for  them  as  you  would  for  your  child.  All  the  officers  and 


194 


PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 


people  were  kind  to  me  and  treated  me  with  the  utmost  respect.  All 
I  desire  is  that  you  obey  God  and  cause  this  starving  and  brutal 
treatment  to  cease.  Please  say  nothing  of  this  letter  but  investigate 
for  yourself  and  see  if  these  things  are  not  so.  Two  meals  a  day 
(and  very  little  then)  for  a  sick  man  is  not  enough. 

Yours  for  humanity, 
MRS.  E.  B.  WHEATON,  Prison  Evangelist. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  letter  I  received  in 
reply  to  the  above,  from  the  general  manager  of  the  prison 

mines  referred  to: 

92    jg t 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  E.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Madam:  Your  letter  of  recent  date  addressed  to  Gov.  

was  referred  to  me.  I  regret  exceedingly  that  you  did  not  call  at  my 
office  on  the  occasion  of  your  visit.  While  there  is  a  great  deal  of 
truth  in  your  letter  there  is  much  that  indicates  that  you  were  inno- 
cently misled  by  statements  of  convicts.  I  know  that  you  must 
be  a  good  woman,  that  your  heart  is  in  your  work,  and  from  your 
wide  experience,  amply  capable  of  advising  and  instructing  one 
like  me.  In  undertaking  the  task  of  uniting  to  bring  our  prison 
systems  in  this  state  to  a  humane  basis,  we  have  done  more  than 
you  can  understand.  Had  you  been  familiar  with  the  conditions  during 
the  past  thirty  years  under  the  lease  system  you  would  realize  that 
much  has  been  accomplished  even  in  the  short  time  we  have  been 
at  work.  I  realize  that  more  is  yet  to  be  done.  But  "Rome  was  not 
built  in  a  day. ' '  The  public  has  got  to  be  educated  as  well  as 
individuals  in  immediate  charge.  I  hope  therefore  you  will  IM  patient, 
and  will  be  only  too  glad  to  see  and  confer  with  you  should  you 
again  visit  us  here.  In  the  meantime  I  beseech  your  earnest  sympa- 
thy and  prayers  for  proper  guidance  in  our  work,  for  I  assure  you 
that  it  is  one  that  requires  such  moral  support  as  only  such  as  you 
can  fully  understand  and  appreciate.  With  great  respect,  I  am, 

Yours,    etc.,  . 

PLEA  FOR   WOMEN    CONVICTS. 

In  some  instances  women  are  made  to  do  the  farm  work, 
work  in  brick  vards,  and  to  do  other  kinds  of  hard  work. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  IQ5 

At  one  place  in  the  south  the  women  cultivated  a  thousand 
acres  of  cotton,  doing  other  farming  and  caring  for  the 
stockade,  horses,  mules,  cows  and  hogs  and  having  only 
men  to  guard  them.  They  were  not  allowed  a  woman 
matron  to  care  for  them  when  they  were  sick  or  dying.  I 
found  them  in  rags  and  tatters  and  looking  almost  like  wild 
beasts.  I  went  to  the  governor  of  that  state  and  pleaded 
with  him  for  my  own  sex.  I  begged  him  to  protect  the 
poor  women  from  such  cruel  treatment  and  brutal  punish- 
ment. I  asked  him  to  have  them  taken  in  from  the  farm, 
where  they  were  clearing  up  the  land  and  compelled  to 


WOMAN  CONVICT  AT  WORK. 

carry  logs,  to  the  state  prison  at  the  Capitol  which  was  near- 
ly empty,  and  given  proper  work  and  humane  treatment. 
Once  upon  my  knees  before  a  governor  I  begged  him  to 
take  the  women  from  the  stockades  to  the  prison  walls  at 
the  capital,  and  place  them  under  the  care  of  a  good  matron 
and  give  them  such  work  as  women  should  do.  Also  that 
they  be  properly  clothed  and  fed  and  taught  morals  and 
religion.  I  said,  "For  the  sake  of  young  men  which  you 
•now  employ  to  control  and  guard  these  women,  won't  you 
do  this?"  (I  had  found  several  young  babes,  born  in  this 


196  PRISONS    AND   PRAYER 

place.)  He  promised  that  he  would  see  that  this  was  done. 
But  a  year  later  I  found  these  women  still  in  the  fields 
laboring  and  suffering  as  before.  I  again  went  to  the  gov- 
ernor. He  was  now  so  changed  I  hardly  knew  him.  I  said 
to  him,  "Well,  governor,  I  see  the  affairs  of  state  wear 
heavily  upon  you.  You  look  ten  years  older  than  you  did 
a  year  ago  when  I  was  here.  Why  did  you  not  fulfill  your 
promise  to  me  about  transferring  those  women  from  the 
stockades  to  the  prison  here  at  the  capital  ?  I  promised  that 
I  would  not  make  public  the  condition  in  which  I  found 
them  if  you  would  look  after  them.  You  promised  to  have 
them  treated  better,  but  it  is  just  the  same  now."  He  was 
surprised  at  my  knowledge  of  affairs  and  my  firmness  and 
tried  to  excuse  himself,  and  said  that  he  had  brought  some 
of  them  away  to  the  prison. 

Upon  one  occasion  in  later  years,  in  a  place  I  had  visited 
for  some  years,  I  found  that  an  old  colored  woman  had  been 
tied  to  a  log  and  severely  whipped  on  the  bare  flesh.  The 
other  women  could  not  bear  to  see  her  so  cruelly  treated, 
and  silently  cried  unto  God  to  take  the  cruel  captain  who 
had  ordered  her  so  punished  out  of  the  way.  He  did  so; 
for  when  I  arrived  there  in  a  few  days  he  was  struck  with 
death  and  soon  died.  God  did  not  allow  him  to  compel  the 
whipping  of  any  more  women. 

I  think  that  upon  only  one  occasion  was  I  ever  treated 
other  than  kindly  and  with  respect  by  any  governor  In 
this  case  I  insisted  that  the  women  prisoners,  especially, 
should  be  more  humanely  treated.  The  governor  refused 
to  take  any  action  regarding  the  cruelties  practiced  but 
said,  "Go  to  the  Principal  Keeper."  I  replied,  "I  have  just 
come  from  the  Principal  Keeper  and  he  sent  me  to  you, 
Governor.  These  captains  are  not  permitted  to  strike  one 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  1 97 

blow  without  a  license  from  you.  It  is  by  your  permission 
that  they  whip  and  punish  them."  He  was  evidently  an- 
noyed to  think  that  I  so  well  understood  the  condition  of 
the  prisons  and  their  management.  It  was  now  election 
time  and  he  was  running  for  office  for  another  term,  and  he 
dismissed  me  without  further  ado.  Many  like  him  are  say- 
ing: "Am  I  my  brother's  keeper?"  Yes,  you  and  I  dear 
reader,  and  those  in  authority  will  surely  have  to  answer  in 
the  great  day  of  reckoning,  if  we  neglect  to  alleviate  the 
sufferings  of  our  fellowmen,  when  it  is  in  our  power  to  do 
so.  There  are  many  kind  men  in  office  who  really  desire 
better  conditions  of  affairs,  but  are  only  servants  of  those 
who  are  higher  in  authority.  Truly  the  penalty  for  crime 
must  be  paid,  but  give  all  a  chance  to  reform  and  do  right 
before  God  and  man.  Can  we  not  let  poor  fallen  human 
beings  see  that  we  do  care  for  them?  And  that  there  is 
hope  in  Christ  for  them  if  they  will  repent  and  confess 
their  sin  to  Him?  Did  He  not  come  "to  seek  and  to  save 
that  which  was  lost?" 

BLOOD  HOUNDS. 

I  never  will  forget  my  feelings  when  first  the  howls  of 
the  bloodhounds  sounded  in  my  ears.  I  was  in  a  stockade 
and  there  was  a  noise  such  as  I  never  heard  before.  I  was 
on  my  knees  praying  and  the  wife  of  the  captain  came  in 
saying,  "There  has  been  an  escape  and  the  guards  and 
dogs  are  after  the  convict."  I  just  lifted  my  heart  to  the 
Lord  in  prayer  for  the  poor  unfortunate,  hunted  man.  I 
never  stopped  to  think  whether  white  or  black ;  old  or 
young ;  innocent  or  guilty ;  my  one  cry  was  for  the  life  and 
safety  of  my  boy. 

Mothers  you  know  how  you  would  feel  were  it  your  boy. 
Well,  I  got  initiated  in  that  part  of  prison  management 


PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 


that  day.  I  have  one  thought  above  all  others  and  that  is 
to  do  God's  will  and  obey  Him  and  help  all  in  anyway  I  can 
into  a  good  life  here  and  a  home  in  Heaven  at  last;  poor 
heart-sick,  home-sick  and  sin-sick  souls.  The  very  thought 
of  the  convict  being  helpless  should  appeal  to  our  sympathy 
and  God,  the  Judge  of  all  the  universe,  is  going  to  call  us 
to  give  an  account  for  our  stewardship.  Men  and  women 
must  be  governed  but  not  by  brute  force.  We  may  over- 
power them,  but  do  we  conquer  them  ?  Have  we  won  them 
to  a  better  life  and  to  good  citizenship  ? 

COAL  MINES. 

The  prison  stockades  vary  in  number.    Sometimes  there 
may  be  thirty  or  forty  in  one  state,  sometimes  probably  not 
half   that   many.     It   de- 
pends  upon   the   number 
of  prisoners  in  the  peni- 
tentiary   and    into    how 
many    sections    they    are 
divided.    When  I  was  at 
Coal  City,  Ga.,  a  number 
of  years  ago,  it  was  one 
of   the   most   weird    and 
desolate  -  looking    places 
in     which     I     had     ever 
found  a  stockade  located. 
There   were  three  stock- 
ades   on    the    summit    of 
the  mountain,  and  one  at 
its    base.      At    the    last         CONVICTS  oETtwa  OUT  COAL. 
place  the  men  were  min- 
ing    coal.        When     I     first     went     there     they     used     a 
small    car    that     would    hold     eight    passengers.      Then 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVK  1 99 

this  was  abandoned  and  we  were  obliged  to  ride  on  the 
engine,  as  they  carried  only  coal  cars  for  shipping  the  coal 
that  was  mined  by  the  prisoners.  I  was  often  in  great  dan- 
ger of  my  clothes  taking  fire  as  the  fire  blazed  out  of  the 
engine  when  the  men  were  shoveling  in  the  coal.  The  rail- 
road zig-zagged  up  the  mountain,  and  once,  a  sister  and 
myself  were  obliged  to  ride  on  the  coal-box,  as  the  engine 
was  packed  with  men  and  one  woman  before  we  had  ar- 
rived from  the  other  train.  I  had  to  kneel  down  and  hold 
onto  the  side  of  the  coal  box  with  both  hands,  and  as  the 
engine  twisted  and  turned,  I  was  in  danger  of  falling,  and 
it  was  hundreds  of  feet  down  to  the  foot  of  the  precipices 
in  places  where  our  train  crept  along.  All  the  way  up  the 
mountain  I  prayed  God  to  protect  us.  The  train  was  run 
by  prisoners,  yet  I  always  felt  safe  with  them. 

A   TOUCHING   INCIDENT. 

"Lady,  is  you  a  preacher?  Coz,  if  you  is,  I  want  you 
to  come  over  to  my  house  'long  wid  me  and  make  a  prayer, 
coz  my  mother  is  dead,  and  my  father  is  in  prison  over  the 
stockade  wall,  and  they  are  goin'  to  bury  my  mother,  and 
there  ain't  nobody  to  make  a  prayer,  'cept  a  colored  woman 
who  was  kind  to  my  mother  and  loved  her  coz  she  was 
good.  We  children  ain't  got  nobody  to  care  for  us." 

It  was  just  as  I  was  leaving  the  railroad  station  near  the 
Pratt  Mine  prison  stockade  in  Alabama  that  I  was  ac- 
costed as  above.  The  speaker  was  a  small  white  boy  with 
hands  and  face  so  black  with  coal  dust  that  one  could 
hardly  tell  that  he  was  white.  The  sadness  of  that  child's 
voice  touched  my  heart,  and  I  said,  "Yes,  surely  I  will  be 
glad  to  go  with  you,  my  child." 

Through  the  mountain  forest  the  little  boy  had  come  in 
search  of  some  one  to  make  a  prayer  over  the  dead  mother 


2OO  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

who,  while  she  was  living,  had  taught  her  children  about 
Jesus.  I  found  the  cabin  by  his  guiding  me  along  the 
mountain  path  through  the  underbrush.  Such  a  sight  as 
met  my  eyes !  A  body  covered  with  a  ragged  sheet,  lying 
on  a  board  held  up  by  a  couple  of  rickety  stools.  Nothing 
was  in  the  hut  to  make  it  look  like  home.  Two  old  crones 
sat  by  the  stump  fire  in  'the  large  fireplace,  making  free  use 
of  snuff  and  tobacco.  It  was  a  dirty  little  one-roomed  cab- 
in. The  funeral  was  to  be  at  once,  but  the  man  who  was 
making  the  rough  box  which  was  to  serve  as  a  coffin  was 
so  slow  that  we  finally  waited  for  the  funeral  till  the  next 
day. 

I  went  to  the  prison  camp  and  found  the  husband  and 
father  of  the  little  boy,  and  obtained  permission  of  the  offi- 
cials for  him  to  attend  the  funeral  of  his  wife,  providing 
that  I  should  be  responsible  for  his  return.  Well,  God  un- 
derstood it  all  and  helped  me  there  in  that  wild  country; 
for  that  was  when  the  prison  stockades  were  not  what 
they  are  today.  Conditions  are  much  changed  since  I  first 
went  with  a  gospel  message  to  those  lonely  prisoners  and 
sin-bound  souls. 

MY    FIRST    MEETING    IN    A    PRISON    CAMP. 

That  night  I  held  my  first  service  in  a  prison  camp.  The 
jcaptain  was  loth  to  allow  me  the  privilege,  but  the  Lord 
touched  his  heart  and  he  said  that  I  might  try.  I  had  come 
a  long  distance  on  the  train  and  had  taken  little  to  eat  for 
several  days  for  those  were  days  of  much  fasting  and 
prayer.  The  call  of  God  was  upon  me.  I  must  preach  the 
Gospel  to  these  men.  So  now  I  had  but  one  thing  to  do, 
to  wait  alone  upon  the  Lord.  I  knelt  before  God  in  the 
little  old  wooden  hut  used  as  an  office,  and  cried  to  the 
Lord,  "O  Lord,  help  me!  O  Lord,  help  me!  Show  me 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  2OI 

how  to  hold  a  meeting  here!"     Just  after  dark  a  guard 
came  and  said,  "We  are  ready  for  the  meeting  to  begin. 
Come  on."     Imagine  how  I  felt  when  there  alone  before 
hundreds  of  men  in  rags  and  tatters,  with  hands  and  faces 
so  black  and  grimy  with  coal  dust  (this  being  in  a  prison 
mining  camp)    that   I   could   scarcely  tell   the   white  men 
from  the  colored !     The  building  was  low  and  dirty,  the 
men  were  seated  on  rude  benches,  the  guards  standing  with 
their  guns  in  hand  and  many  great  strong  bloodhounds  by 
their  sides.     The  room  was  dimly  lighted  by  three  smoky 
old  lanterns  hanging  on  the  walls.     I  had  conducted  prayer, 
meetings  in  the  church,  led  in  temperance  meetings,  and 
labored  with  church  people  in  the*  cities,  and  had  been  a 
Sabbath  school  teacher  for  years;  but  I  had  never  before 
faced  a  congregation  such  as  I  now  saw  before  me.     I 
knelt  in  silent  prayer  before  stepping  upon  the  rough  old 
box  upon  which  I  was  to  stand  while  I  spoke.    I  arose  and 
sang  an  old-time  hymn,  and  again  knelt  and  offered  prayer. 
I  told  God  all  about  why  I  was  there.     I  sang  another 
hymn,  but  could  go  no  farther.     All  eyes  were  fixed  upon 
me,  and  I  asked,  "Is  there  one  Christian  here?"  If  so  please 
raise  your  hand."     I  stood  trembling  and  thought,  "Must  I 
stand  all  alone  here  with  no  one  to  pray  for  me,  or  encour- 
age me  in  my  labor  for  the  Master?"    At  last  one  old  col- 
ored man  timidly  raised  his  hand,  followed  by  another,  and 
then  another.    How  I  thank  God  even  now  for  this — after 
all  these  years  of  toil  as  a  prison  worker.     Then,  I  was 
soon  lost  in  the  theme  of  Jesus  and  His  love.     I  seemed  to 
see  those  rough  prison  miners  as  dear  children  once  more 
in  the  old  home  at  mother's  knee  at  night-fall  listening  to 
her  "Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep."     As  I  closed,  seeing 
that  the  Lord   had   spoken  to  many  hearts  by  His   Holy 


2O2  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

Spirit,  I  asked  who  would  kneel  with  me  in  prayer  and  be- 
gin a  new  life.  I  think  every  prisoner  bowed  there  before 
God  with  the  heavy  prisoners'  chains  clanking  as  only  such 
can  do.  The  sound  is  inexpressibly  sad  to  me  even  now 
after  so  many  years  of  labor  in  prisons  and  the  rattling  of 
the  great  keys  in  the  hand  of  the  guard  and  the  sound  of 
the  heavy  iron  doors  as  they  open  and  close,  receiving 
"some  mother's  boy,"  are  still  as  affecting  to  me  as  in  those 
early  days  of  my  prison  work. 

Many  of  these  men  on  that  night  in  humility  and  meek- 
ness sought  and  confessed  Christ  as  their  Savior.  I  know 
not  how  many  who  knelt  with  me  there,  I  shall  meet  in 
heaven ;  but  I  know  that*  God  has  said  His  Word  shall  not 
return  unto  Him  void.  "He  that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth, 
bearing  precious  seed,  shall  doubtless  come  again  with  re- 
joicing, bringing  his  sheaves  with  him." 

At  the  close  of  the  service  an  officer  informed  me  that 
his  wife  had  prepared  to  entertain  me.  I  gladly  accepted 
of  the  kind  offer  and  went  to  their  humble  home,  greatly 
enjoying  their  hospitality,  for  I  was  much  exhausted  and 
very  weary  with  the  long  journey,  the  anxiety  and  the 
labor  of  the  day.  These  remained  my  faithful  friends 
while  I  knew  them.  I  thank  God  for  those  who  open  their 
homes  to  the  children  of  the  Lord. 

The  next  morning  the  lady  said,  "I  will  let  my  little  girl 
go  with  you  to  the  funeral  and  to  show  you  the  way  through 
the  mountains  to  visit  the  sick."  So  I  went  again  to  the 
miserable  home  of  the  poor  little  ones  who  were  left  worse 
than  orphans.  How  my  heart  was  filled  with  sorrow,  see- 
ing the  lonely  helpless  children,  two  boys  and  a  beautiful 
little  girl,  with  mother  dead,  and  father  in  prison !  I  won- 
dered what  their  future  might  be.  A  few  mountaineers*" 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE 


203 


wives  had  assembled,  but  there  were  not  enough  men  pres- 
ent to  lift  the  box  that  contained  the  corpse  into  the  old 
coal  wagon.  After  the  short,  sad  services,  with  my  assist- 
ance as  a  pall  bearer  the  crude  coffin  was  lifted  into  the 
wagon,  and  I  helped  to  steady  it  as  we  traveled  over  the 
rough  mountain  road  to  the  cemetery.  I  had  double  duty 
caring  for  this  and  making  sure  that  the  husband  and  father 
did  not  attempt  to  escape ;  for  you  know  liberty  is  sweet. 
The  Lord  of  hosts  must  have  kept  him  true  to  his  promise, 
and  I  must  say  that  I  can  always  trust  the  poor  prisoners 
not  to  betray  the  confidence  I  place  in  them.  At  the 
grave  I  sang  the  old  hymn,  "I  would  not  live  always"  and 
we  laid  the  faithful  wife  and  mother  away  to  rest  until  the 
trumpet  shall  call  the  dead  to  rise. 

What  was  the  cause  of  the  sad  plight  of  this  family? 
Sin.  The  saloon !  There  had  been  a  saloon  fight,  and  some 
one  was  killed.  Some  one  did  the  deed.  Oh,  God !  What 
a  reckoning  there  will  be  in  the  end  for  those  who  vote  to 
license  the  saloon,  as  well  as  they  who  dispense  the  rum, 
God  will  open  the  books  and  all  shall  be  judged  out  of  the 
things  that  are  written  therein.  "Vengeance  is  mine,  I 
will  repay,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts."  This  faithful  wife  and 
mother  had  spent  all  her  living  in  an  attempt  to  secure  the 
liberty  of.  her  husband.  But  failing  in  this,  she  had  come 
with  her  children  to  live  in  that  dreary  place,  hoping  to  be 
able  to  lead  him  to  a  better  life,  finally  dying  in  want,  and 
of  a  broken  heart.  After  the  funeral  I  pleaded  with  the  little 
girl  to  go  with  me.  But  she  true  to  her  trust,  true  to  her 
dead  mother's  loyalty,  said,  "Never  will  I  leave  my  poor 
father  with  no  one  to  care  for  him.  Mother  never  would, 
I  never  will.  I  will  go  to  see  him  and  tell  him  of  Jesus." 

Wearied   with   toil    and   the   journeying    from   place  to 


2O4  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

place  to  visit  the  sick  to  whom  the  little  girl  from  the  camp 
had  guided  me,  I  returned  in  the  evening  with  her  to  her 
home  and  then  to  the  camp.  Thinking  to  lie  down  and  take 
some  rest,  and  kneeling  to  pray,  I  was  impressed  that  I 
must  visit  the  other  stockade  some  two  or  three  miles  away. 
I  knew  it  was  the  voice  of  God  and  said,  "Yes."  The  lady 
strongly  pleading  that  I  must  not  go,  that  it  was  dangerous, 
said  I  could  not  go  alone,  that  I  would  lose  my  way,  etc. 
The  husband  also  said  one's  life  was  in  danger,  that  several 
men  were  found  dead  in  those  mountains  and  no  one  knew 
who  killed  them,  etc.,  and  pleaded  with  me  not  to  go.  But 
I  said,  "If  God  sends  me,  He  will  see  that  I  am  not  harmed. 
He  will  not  forsake  me."  Soon  I  started  on  my  way,  and 
presently  met  the  two  little  boys  whose  mother  had  just 
been  buried.  I  asked  if  one  of  them  would  not  show  me 
the  way  to  the  other  camp,  and  the  older  one  kindly  did  so. 
With  my  little  guide  we  hurried  down  that  rough  moun- 
tain side,  we  being  compelled  to  carry  stones  to  build  a 
bridge  across  a  stream  of  water,  and  finally  came  within 
sight  of  the  camp.  Upon  insisting  that  God  had  sent  me, 
and  that  I  had  held  services  in  the  other  camp,  the  captain 
(overseer)  invited  me  into  his  home.  I  had  not  expected 
such  kindness,  but  thanking  the  Lord  I  accepted  it  as  from 
Him.  They  kindly  brought  us  food,  but  I  would  not  eat. 
and  gave  it  all  to  the  little  boy  who  was  so  hungry,  and 
praying  for  him  he  started  homeward.  Here  also  we  had 
a  wonderful  meeting.  Men  with  broken  hearts  wept  with 
longing  for  a  mother's  sympathy  and  a  Savior's  love.  Some 
came  to  Christ  and  were  saved,  and  I  believe  that  I  shall 
meet  some  of  them  in  the  great  home  gathering  bye  and 
bye  in  heaven. 

Early  the  following  morning,  I  was  told  that  the  engine 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  205 

which  was  to  take  me  on  my  way  was  ready  to  start  with  its 
train  of  coal  cars  for  the  station  some  ten  miles  distant ; 
but  that  I  would  have  time  to  visit  the  hospital  department 
where  many  were  lying  sick.  I  hurried  through  the  prison 
yard,  filled  with  hogs  and  bloodhounds,  to  the  hospital, 
where  I  sang  a  song  and  prayed.  I  was  turning  to  go 
when  a  guard  came  running  and  said,  "The  whole  train  is 
waiting  for  you,  hurry  up."  As  I  was  hurrying  out  a  door 
opened  and  a  woman  called,  "Do  come  and  see  my  son,  he 
is  dying.  Do  come  and  pray  for  him."  I  ran  in  saying, 
"The  train  may  go;  I  dare  not  refuse  the  request."  I 
grasped  the  dying  boy's  hand  firmly  and  said,  "Take  holU 
on  God  as  I  take  hold  of  your  hand.  He  will  not  forsake 
you.  He  will  save  you ;  look  and  live."  I  offered  a  short 
prayer  and  ran  down  to  the  engine,  which  still  waited. 
There  was  something  seeming  so  dismal  in  its  sound  in 
those  lonely  regions.  1  had  to  ride  on  the  engine,  as 
there  was  nothing  but  coal  flats  on  this  train.  I  was  helped 
on  and  we  were  off.  The  sun  was  just  rising  over  the 
mountain  and  the  heavy  fog  was  beginning  to  rise,  and  oh, 
such  a  blessing  I  received  as  we  sped  along  the  winding 
way!  I  shall  never  forget  the  gloomy  sight  I  left  behind 
me  there.  The  poor  prison-bound  men  marching  out  to 
the  mines  with  their  lanterns  on  their  caps  and  with  their 
picks  and  shovels.  They  never  seemed  so  dear  to  me,  and 
I  began  to  see  more  clearly  than  ever  that  God  had  a  spe- 
cial work  for  me  to  do.  I  saw  the  value  of  a  soul  bought 
with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ.  I  saw,  too,  the  need  of 
fully  consecrated  Christian  workers.  As  we  wound  around 
the.  mountain  side  I  knew  I  had  been  obedient  to  my  God, 
and  His  Spirit  bore  witness  with  my  spirit  that  He  accept- 
ed my  weak  efforts. 


2O6  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

DIFFICULTIES  OVERCOME. 

I  was  not  always  kindly  received  as  mentioned  in  some 
instances.  We  are  not  carried  to  heaven  upon  flowery 
beds  of  ease.  I  have  many  times  been  refused  the  privilege 
even  of  singing  a  hymn  in  a  prison.  My  singing  has  often 
been  blessed  as  a  means  of  touching  hearts,  and  through  it 
souls  have  been  converted  and  are  still  true  to  God.  I  went 
to  visit  another  prison  mining  camp  or  stockade,  in  a  very 
lonely  region  where  few  people  lived.  I  arrived  upon  a 
dark,  gloomy  night;  there  was  no  depot  and  not  a  house 
near.  There  I  was  alone,  yet  not  alone,  for  God  was  with 
me.  A  young  mulatto  man  who  proved  to  be  an  ex-con- 
vict, had  come  to  the  train  with  a  lantern,  and  I  asked  him 
to  kindly  show  me  the  way  to  the  home  of  the  captain  of 
the  camp.  I  found  the  officer  had  gone  in  search  of  a  pris- 
oner who  had  made  his  escape,  and  his  wife  refused  to 
take  any  one  in  in  her  husband's  absence.  She  said  I 
should  go  to  another  officer  some  distance  away.  Ascend- 
ing the  steps  to  the  large  house  my  heart  sank  within  me, 
for  I  felt  that  I  should  be  turned  away  again  in  the  night. 
The  officer  himself  came  to  the  door  to  answer  my  call. 
Telling  him  my  mission,  I  asked  to  stay  with  them  till 
morning.  His  wife  would  not  consent  to  entertain  me,  and 
I  answered,  "Where  shall  I  go?  I  am  alone,  and  a  Chris- 
tian woman  sent  of  God  to  help  people  in  prison  to  a  better 
life."  He  replied,  "There's  a  boarding  house  a  mile  away 
down  the  mountain,"  and  the  door  was  shut.  I  asked  my 
guide,  "Is  there  not  one  Christian  here  in  these  mountains?" 
He  said,  "Only  one,  a  poor  old  colored  man,  that's  been  in 
prison,  and  he  lives  up  the  mountain  with  his  daughter,  a 
young  woman."  Crying  as  I  went  along  holding  to  the 
brush  with  one  hand,  we  finally  reached  the  hut  at  the  top 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  2O/ 

of  the  mountain.  I  told  the  young  woman  my  story  and 
asked  if  I  might  stay  with  her  for  the  night.  She  an- 
swered, "No,  my  father  is  away  and  I  cannot  take  in  a 
stranger  without  his  consent."  "Then  I  must  stay  out  on 
the  mountain  alone  all  night."  She  seemed  sorry  for  me, 
and  said  I  should  wait  till  her  father  came.  I  had  not  to 
wait  long  till  he  came,  and  kindly  consented  for  me  to 
stay.  I  was  weary  and  hungry  from  my  long  journey.  I 
saw  the  old  colored  man  open  the  basket  he  had  brought 
home  with  him.  It  contained  some  cold  food  given  him 
where  he  was  employed.  He  asked  me  to  share  his  lunch, 
but  I  refused,  as  I  believed  he  needed  all  he  had. 

How  thankful  I  was  for  shelter  in  that  poor  hut  that 
night,  though  sleeping  by  my  side  was  that  poor  unfortu- 
nate colored  girl  with  a  babe  in  her  arms  that  cried  all  the 
night.  There  were  cracks  in  the  hut  through  which  you 
could  see  the  stars.  What  a  change  the  Lord  had  wrought 
in  the  once  proud  woman  that  I  had  been !  I  remembered 
that  Jesus  said,  "Foxes  have  holes,  and  birds  of  the  air 
have  nests;  but  the  Son  of  man  hath  not  where  to  lay  his 
head."  And  "The  disciple  is  not  above  his  master."  I 
spent  the  night  in  prayer  and  God  heard  my  cries  for  the 
poor  convicts  who  were  cruelly  starved  and  beaten  by  the 
drunken  guards  and  captain  who  seemed  to  bitterly  hate 
all  who  were  so  helplessly  bound  under  them.  This  is  a 
strong  statement  but  I  will  meet  it  at  the  Judgment. 

In  the  morning  one  woman  who  had  turned  me  from  her 
door  sent  to  find  out  what  had  become  of  me.  She  said 
she  would  give  the  young  woman  who  had  sheltered  me  a 
present  for  not  leaving  me  out  on  the  mountain  alone.  I 
had  prayed  earnestly  that  God  would  convict  her  for  her 
lack  of  hospitality.  Upon  going  to  the  officer  to  learn 


2O8  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

when  I  could  have  a  meeting  with  the  prisoners,  he  un- 
kindly turned  me  away  saying  that  I  should  never  have  a 
meeting  there,  and  that  I  might  as  well  go. 

Well,  I  did  go ;  traveling  eighty  miles  back  to  the  capital, 
Montgomery,  Alabama,  to  see  the  Governor.  I  knew  the 
Lord  had  sent  me,  and  how  could  I  meet  Him  at  the  Judg- 
ment and  tell  Him  I  had  failed?  I  knew,  too,  that  Satan 
had  hindered.  I  asked  for  the  Governor  but  was  told  that  the 
President  of  the  Board  of  Prison  Inspectors  was  the  prop- 
er person  for  me  to  see  about  the  matter.  He  was  sent  for 
and  soon  came.  He  was  a  very  kind  old  gentleman  and 
sat  down  and  asked  me  what  I  wished.  When  I  had  re- 
lated the  facts  he  said,  "Who  dare  refuse  you  holding  meet- 
ings in  that  prison  camp?  You  go  back  there  and  hold 
your  meeting.  I'll  write  him  a  letter  and  let  him  hear 
from  me."  I  said,  "But  he  will  say  he  did  not  receive  your 
letter."  He  then  said  he  would  write  a  letter  for  me  to 
present  to  him.  But,  how  should  I  get  back  to  the  camp? 
After  selling  my  trunk  and  such  articles  of  clothing  as  I 
could  spare,  I  yet  did  not  have  enough  money  to  pay  railway 
fare. 

MY   FIRST  FREE  PASS. 

Trusting  the  Lord  to  in  some  way  provide  means  for 
me  to  get  back  to  the  camp,  I  went  to  the  janitress  of  the 
depot,  an  intelligent  mulatto,  and  told  her  of  my  need,  as 
she  had  previously  assisted  me  in  securing  half-fare  rates 
on  the  railroad,  she  having  known  the  officials  since  their 
childhood.  She  insisted  that  I  should  go  to  the  office  of 
the  general  manager  of  the  L.  &  N.  R.  R.  and  ask  for  a 
half-fare  rate  to  the  prison  camp  at  New  Castle,  Ala.  Oh, 
how  I  dreaded  to  go  to  that  office !  But  tremblingly  and 
prayerfully  I  went,  and  presenting  to  him  the  letter  which 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  2CK) 

I  was  to  carry  with  me  to  the  camp,  I  told  him  my  desires. 
Upon  reading  this  letter  he  handed  me  what  I  supposed 
was  a  half-fare  permit.  I  humbly  thanked  him  and  re- 
turned to  my  lodging.  After  making  preparation  to  start 
early  in  the  morning  on  my  journey,  before  retiring  for  the 
night  I  knelt  by  my  bedside  to  thank  God  for  the  permit. 
Thinking  I  would  see  just  how  it  read  before  I  prayed,  I 
took  it  up  and  began  reading,  "Pass  Mrs.  Elisabeth  R. 
Whcaton  From  Montgomery  to  Birmingham,  Ala.,  Prison, 
Missionary."  Wh?t !  Did  my  eyes  deceive  me,  or  was  it  a 
mistake.  No.  It  was  a  free  pass,  and  the  following  note 
was  enclosed  to  the  Superintendent  at  the  other  end  of  the 
route  regarding  a  return  pass  if  I  should  ask  for  it: 

Louisville  &  Nashville  Railroad  Co., 

Montgomery,  Ala.,  Jan.  15,  1885. 
L.  Hage,  Esq.,  Supt.,  Birmingham,  Ala. 

Dear  Sir:  This  lady,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wheaton,  bears  credentials 
showing  her  to  be  a  prison  missionary.  Any  courtesy  you  may 
extend  to  her,  in  the  way  of  pass,  will  be  properly  applied. 

Yours  truly, 

M.  S.  BELKNAP,  Supt. 

Oh,  how  I  did  thank  God  for  this  manifestation  of  His 
goodness  to  me — doing  above  that  which  I  could  ask  or 
think !  Mr.  Belknap,  that  kind  R.  R.  officer,  has  been  dead 
many  years,  and  perhaps  is  forgotten  by  some  who  knew 
him  better  than  I,  but  I  shall  never  forget  his  unexpected 
kindness  to  me.  Since  then,  through  the  goodness  of  .God 
and  the  favor  and  confidence  of  the  railroad  officials,  I  have 
received  transportation  throughout  the  country,  to  carry  the 
Gospel  of  Jesus  to  men  and  women  of  every  class. 

Upon  my  return  to  the  prison  camp  I  asked  for  the  offi- 
cer and  told  him  I  had  come  to  hold  meeting  for  the  pris- 
oners. I  suppose  he  had  received  word  from  the  Govern- 


2IO  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

or's  office,  as  he  so  readily  consented,  asking  at  what  hour 
I  would  like  to  have  the  service.  I  thought  best  to  wait  till 
the  following  day  (Sunday)  for  the  services,  that  I  might 
have  sufficient  time  for  my  work.  The  Lord  came  in 
mighty  power  that  Sabbath  day  as  I  sang  the  old  time 
hymns,  and  asked  God  to  forgive  and  help  those  precious 
souls.  The  Spirit  gave  me  utterance  and  carried  the  truth 
to  the  hearts  of  the  hearers.  Sobs  and  groans  were  heard 
from  men  in  tears  who  sought  forgiveness  and  gave  God 
their  hearts.  At  the  close  I  took  each  one  by  the  hand  and 
exhorted  them  to  be  faithful  to  God.  I  afterwards  visited 
the  sick  and  talked  and  prayed  with  them,  exhorting  them 
to  -seek  a  home  in  heaven  where  sin  can  never  come,  and 
where  God  wipes  away  all  tears.  How  true  the  words, 

"Down  in  the  human  heart,  crushed  by  the  tempter, 

Feelings  lie  buried  that  grace  can  restore; 
Touched  by  a  loving  heart,  wakened  by  kindness, 
Chords* that  were  broken  will  vibrate  once  more." 

One  Sunday  morning  I  was  going  to  a  prison  camp  to 
hold  meeting.  There  was  no  way  to  get  there  excepting  to 
walk  through  the  deep  mud.  There  were  a  couple  of  boys 
going  towards  the  stockade  leading  an  old  mule.  I  said, 
"O,.  boys,  CAN'T  i  RIDE  THAT  MULE/" '  "Certainly,"  they 
said.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  I  mounted  the  novel  con- 
veyance, and  that  I  remained  on  the  mule's  back.  For 
some  reason,  I  was  filled  with  apprehension.  I  had  an  im- 
pression that  there  was  danger.  I  asked  the  boys  if  they 
would  not  lead  the  animal,  but  they  kept  a  good  distance 
from  it,  saying  that  they  wanted  to  keep  out  of  the  mud. 

When  we  reached  the  camp  and  the  officers  came  out  and 
helped  me  to  dismount,  they  looked  at  me  in  great  aston- 
ishment, and  one  of  them  said,  "What  a  narrow  escape  you 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  211 

have  made !  I  only  wonder  that  you  got  here  alive.  It  is 
a  wonder  that  old  mule  didn't  kill  you.  I  wonder  that  the 
boys  let  you  take  it!"  I  learned  that  the  animal  was  so 
utterly  uncontrollable  and  vicious  that  they  could  only  use 
him  on  a  dump  cart  to  carry  the  prisoners'  dinner  or  some- 
thing of  the  sort  and  then  he  would  sometimes  kick  the 
cart  all  to  pieces. 

I  raised  my  heart  in  thanksgiving  to  God,  knowing  that 
He  who  stopped  the  lion's  mouth  and  held  the  flames  of 
the  fiery  furnace  had  in  some  way  kept  this  ugly  creature 
from  doing  me  any  harm  and  saved  my  life. 


CHAPTER  xn. 
Work  in  Stockades  and  Prison  Camps — Continued. 

I  once  had  a  novel  experience  in  a  prison  lumber  camp. 
I  was  being  entertained  at  the  home  of  the  superintendent 
of  the  camp  and  was  to  hold  service  with  the  prisoners  at 
twilight.  The  superintendent  came  to  the  parlor  and  asked 
if  I  was  ready  for  the  service.  We  had  not  far  to  go,  but 
I  was  unable  to  walk  the  distance;  so  a  carriage,  drawn 
by  some  of  the  prisoners,  had  been  brought  to  the  gate  for 
me.  I  answered  that  I  was  ready,  but  as  I  was  waiting  he 
again  asked  if  I  was  ready  and  why  I  was  waiting.  I  re- 
plied that  I  was  waiting  for  the  horses.  He  answered, 
"You  come  on,  the  horses  will  be  all  right."  I  had  learned 
to  obey  the  officers,  so  followed  on  down  through  the  beau- 
tiful yard  of  flowers  and  reluctantly  stepped  into  the  car- 
riage. Instantly  four  prisoners  took  hold  of  the  carriage 
and  we  were  off.  The  men  seemed  glad  to  assist  me  and 
I  was  so  thankful  to  them.  God  bless  them!  I  do  not 
think  a  queen  with  all  her  body-guard  could  have  felt  more 
secure  or  have  been  more  appreciated,  than  I,  there  sur- 
rounded by  my  dear  prison  boys.  After  the  service  I  was 
conveyed  in  the  same  manner  back  to  the  home  of  the 
superintendent. 

At  another  time,  desiring  to  visit  a  certain  prison  camp, 
I  found  there  was  no  way  to  reach  it  but  to  ride  on  a  flat 
car  with  the  men  going  from  their  work.  I  was  glad  to  go 
with  them  and  have  a  chance  to  speak  a  word  of  kindness 
and  sing  some  hymns  that  might  cheer  them  on  the  way. 

In  the  pineries  of  Florida  the  stockade  prisoners  are 
engaged  in  taking  the  sap  from  the  pine  trees.  The  camps 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  213 

are  located  some  miles  apart,  and  in  going  from  one  to  an- 
other the  forests  are  so  dense  that  we  were  compelled  to 
go  in  a  two-wheled  donkey-cart.  We  encountered  great 
dangers,  there  being  many  poisonous  reptiles  and  alligators 
in  the  lakes  and  rivers  which  we  had  to  pass. 

ASSISTING  A   COLORED   MINISTER. 

I  arrived  one  Sunday  morning  at  a  stockade  where  hun- 
dreds of  men  and  some  women  were  kept.  I  went  to  the 
keeper,  or  captain,  as  he  was  called,  and  asked  for  the  privi- 
lege of  holding  a  gospel  service  with  the  prisoners  under 
his  charge.  He  not  only  refused  me,  but  was  abusive,  curs- 
ing me  and  ordering  me  away.  Of  course  I  was  much 
grieved,  as  I  felt  the  Lord  had  sent  me  there  to  preach  the 
gospel.  I  was  greatly  surprised  that  an  official  should  use 
such  language  to  a  lady,  and  without  provocation.  Weep- 
ing, I  asked  if  I  might  sing  for  the  women  prisoners. 
Again,  with  oaths,  he  refused  me.  But  Brother  Frank 
Joseph,  a  colored  preacher  who  knew  me,  was  there  to 
hold  religious  services  by  permission  of  the  governor,  and 
he  came  and  invited  me  to  assist  him.  Of  course  the  cap- 
tain could  say  nothing  against  it  and  I  went  with  him.  Bui: 
when  he  asked  me  to  conduct  the  service  I  could  not  at  the 
first  sing,  preach  or  pray  for  weeping,  but  I  told  him  I 
would  pray  God  to  give  them  a  kinder  officer  for  I  knew 
the  one  they  had  was  a  cruel  man.  God  used  even  my 
weakness  and  my  tears  to  touch  their  hearts  and  we  had  a 
blessed  meeting. 

After  service  I  had  a  chance  to  talk  to  the  women  pris- 
oners. We  wept  together  and  oh  how  thankful  they  were 
that  there  was  one  woman  who  would  try  to  help  them  and 
make  their  burdens  lighter.  They  told  me  how  terribly 
they  were  treated  and  said  they  would  be  beaten  if  the  cap- 


214  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

tain  knew  of  their  telling  me  of  it.  How  glad  I  was  to 
carry  the  message  of  Jesus'  love  to  them  in  their  distress. 
Before  I  left  they  said  they  wished  they  had  something  to 
give  me,  and  some  gave  small  tokens  of  their  regards.  It 
was  all  they  had  to  give  and  when  they  urged  me  I  accepted 
them  as  from  the  Lord,  feeling  that  He  would  in  some 
way  reward  them  and  bless  their  offering  as  He  did  the 
widow's  mite. 

THROUGH    DANGER   ALONE. 

Desiring  to  reach  another  stockade  some  miles  distant  I 
asked  the  captain  if  he  could  not  supply  me  with  convey- 
ance and  a  guide,  but  he  refused.  I  determined,  however, 
to  find  the  other  prison  and  started  on  foot  alone.  The 
prison  women  told  me  that  it  was  very  dangerous  because 
of  fierce  dogs  and  cross  cattle  in  the  mountains ;  but  feel- 
ing that  God  wanted  me  to  go  I  knew  no  such  thing  as  fail. 
After  walking  some  distance  I  sank  down  with  exhaustion 
under  a  big  tree  and  wept  out  my  heart  to  God  for  guid- 
ance, protection  and  success.  I  arose  feeling  strengthened 
and  comforted  and  soon  came  to  a  farm  house  and  asked  a 
young  man  who  stood  in  the  garden  if  he  could  direct  me 
to  the  prison  camp.  "Yes,  come  in,  lady,  you  look  so  tired 
and  faint  and  my  mother  will  give  you  something  to  eat 
and  we  will  show  you  the  way,"  was  the  kind  reply  I  re- 
ceived. I  stopped  and  rested  a  while  but  would  neither  eat 
nor  drink  as  I  had  given  myself  to  fasting  and  prayer  that 
my  way  might  be  opened  for  services  in  the  camp  to  which 
I  was  going.  After  a  long  walk  we  found  the  stockade  and 
knowing  the  young  man  who  was  with  me,  the  officers  gave 
their  consent  for  me  to  hold  a  service.  After  I  had  been 
singing  and  talking  to  the  prisoners  a  while  suddenly  my 
strength  failed  me.  I  had  only  time  to  say,  "Will  you 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  215 

sing?"  Then  I  saw  and  heard  nothing  more.  I  HAD  FALL- 
EN PROSTRATE  among  those  chained  prisoners.  When  I 
came  to  myself  I  heard  singing  from  inside  the  walls,  such 
singing  as  could  only  come  from  truly  broken-hearted,  re- 
pentant souls.  I  had  been  carried  outside  and  the  poor 
prison  women  were  caring  for  me.  A  good  old  colored 
sister  was  holding  me  close  to  her  and  pleading  with  God 
to  restore  me.  I  heard  her  say,  "She's  a  woman  like  we 
is — and  she's  given  her  life  for  us."  They  were  doing  all 
they  knew  and  were  crying  around  me.  I  said,  "Please 
carry  me  back  into  the  prison."  When  they  had  done  so  I 
asked,  "How  many  of  you  prisoners  will  kneel  with  me  in 
prayer  and  give  your  hearts  to  God,  take  Him  as  your 
Savior  and  start  today  for  heaven?  God  loves  you,  Jesus 
died  for  you!  And  if  you  will  come  to  Him  and  confess 
your  sins  He  will  save  you."  Every  one  knelt  before  God, 
and  many  with  prayers  and  broken  sobs  cried  out  their 
hearts  to  Him  who  is  not  willing  that  any  should  perish, 
but  that  all  should  have  eternal  life.  I  expect  to  meet  many 
of  them  in  heaven ;  for  He  is  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost 
all  that  will  come  unto  God  by  Him — and  able  also  to  keep 
them  from  falling. 

The  following  day,  traveling  from  this  prison  to  another 
stockade,  sitting  near  me  in  the  car  was  an  aged  gentleman 
who  on  seeing  my  Bible  asked  me  where  I  was  going. 
When  I  had  told  him,  he  asked  me  the  nature  of  my  work 
and  how  the  prisoners  were  treated  in  these  places;  also 
how  I  was  received  by  the  officials  of  the  prisons  gener- 
ally. Thinking  to  only  entertain  a  kind  old  country  gen- 
tleman, I  told  him  many  things  which  I  probably  should 
not  have  been  so  free  to  mention  had  I  known  who  he  was. 
He  asked  me  many  questions  about  the  stockades.  I  told, 


2l6  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

him  that  I  had  never  been  so  cruelly  treated  as  at  a  camp  on 
the  previous  day.  "Where,"  he  inquired,  "Who  did  such 
a  thing?"  In  answer  to  his  inquiry  I  told  him  who  it  was. 
Little  did  I  know  that  this  was  God's  way  of  revealing  sin. 

A   MEETING   AT   DAY  DAWN. 

Reaching  the  small  station  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain, 
we  had  to  take  a  box  car  only  large  enough  for  six  persons. 
The  old  gentleman  was  one  of  the  passengers  also.  Going 
to  the  house  of  the  captain  at  the  top  of  the  mountain 
(such  a  lonely  place),  he  thought  it  impossible  to  have  a 
meeting  with  the  men,  as  he  said  they  were  so  wicked  and 
unruly,  etc.,  but  finally  said  I  might  do  so  at  day-break  the 
next  morning.  He  was  very  careful,  saying,  "These  men 
are  so  wicked  and  cruel  that  never  could  a  woman  stand 
before  them."  I  wept  and  prayed  most  of  the  night  and 
cried,  "Oh  God,  can  you  let  me  fail  now?"  In  those  early 
years  of  my  labor  I  traveled  much  alone  but  later  I  usually 
had  a  sister  accompany  me,  or  sometimes  a  sister  and  her 
husband. 

Out  in  the  prison  yard  at  break  of  day  I  found  hundreds 
of  men  all  ready  to  go  down  into  the  coal  mines.  I  won- 
dered how  to  gain  their  attention  and  make  them  all  hear 
my  voice.  I  asked  to  have  the  men  drawn  closer  together, 
as  they  stood  in  the  prison  yard.  This  being  done,  I  sang 
a  hymn.  Oh  how  I  do  praise  God  for  the  gift  of  song !  I 
forgot  my  weird  surroundings  and  the  rough  appearance 
of  the  men  and  their  dangerous  looks.  I  saw  them  as  little 
boys  in  the  old  home  far  away  and  then  as  human  souls, 
hurrying  into  the  presence  of  God  and  I  felt  that  I  stood 
between  them  and  the  Judgment.  Conceive,  if  you  can, 
how  this  company  must  have  looked  to  me,  bound  in  com- 
panies of  perhaps  fifty  in  a  "gang,"  to  a  long  strong  chain 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  217 

to  which  was  fastened  a  number  of  shorter  chains;  these 
short  chains  being  fastened  to  the  men's  ankles. 

God  enabled  me  to  deliver  His  message  and  eternity 
alone  will  reveal  the  results  of  the  seed  scattered  there  that 
morning.  After  shaking  hands  with  the  men  I  was  intro- 
duced to  the  old  gentleman  whom  I  hacl  met  on  the  train 
the  day  before.  To  my  surprise  he  proved  to  be  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Prison  Inspectors  of  the  state.  I  saw 
him  no  more  after  that  time,  but  a  year  later  I  visited  the 
prison  of  which  I  had  told  him.  I  saw  at  the  depot  a  young 
colored  man  nicely  dressed,  but  I  knew  by  his  clothes  that 
he  was  one  of  the  prison  boys.  He  had  come  to  get  the 
morning  paper  for  the  warden.  I  walked  with  him  to  the 
prison,  and  on  the  way  asked  him  how  they  all  were  at  the 
camp.  "All  so  nicely,  thank  you,"  he  replied.  "Who  is 
your  captain  now?"  I  asked.  "Has  there  been  any  change 
since  I  was  here  last  year?"  "O  yes,  ma'am,  soon  after 
you  was  here  ma'am,  just  as  soon  as  Massa  (meaning  the 
President  of  the  Board)  could  find  a  good  man  to  take  de 
place  ob  de  ole  captun  what  treated  de  men  so  bad  and 
'bused  you  so,  he  sent  him  away."  "Oh,  is  that  so?"  I  said. 
"Yes,  an'  we's  got  a  good  time  now  to  what  we  had  befo' 
God  sent  you  heah  ma'am.  He  certainly  did  send  you  heah 
ma'am  dat  time."  So  I  had  only  suffered  these  indignities 
that  these  abused  ones  might  have  better  officers  and  treat- 
ment. The  new  captain  received  me  very  kindly  and  giv- 
ing me  a  seat  said  my  breakfast  would  be  ready  as  soon  as 
the  prison  women  could  prepare  it  for  me.  Well,  surely 
the  Lord  had  been  at  work.  Such  a  change  all  around! 
We  had  a  grand  meeting  and  much  good  was  accom- 
plished, the  captain  furnished  a  buggy  to  take  me  to  the 
next  camp  and  bring  me  back  to  the  depot. 


2l8  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

HELPING  TO  BURY  A  PRISONER. 

After  visiting  the  hospital  department  of  a  stockade 
where  I  had  never  been  before,  I  saw  the  guards  nailing 
up  a  long,  apparently  heavy,  box.  I  said  to  them,  "What 
have  you  in  that  box?"  One  replied,  "A  man — a  dead 
man."  Soon  after  I  heard  an  officer  say  to  a  guard,  ''Send 
five  prisoners  to  go  with  me  to  bury  that  box."  I  arose 
from  where  I  had  been  praying,  and  hurried  out  and  asked 
permission  to  accompany  the  men  with  the  box,  but  was 
refused — the  officer  saying  they  had  no  guard  to  spare  to 
assist  me  up  the  mountain  side.  "Oh,  just  please  let  me 
go,"  I  said.  "I  do  not  need  any  one  to  help  me  to  climb 
the  mountain.  Please,  won't  you  let  me  go?"  He  then 
consented,  and  I  did  not  wait  for  either  bonnet  or  help; 
but  with  my  shawl  over  my  head  I  hurried  out  after  the 
men  bearing  the  corpse.  On  we  went  up  the  mountain 
side,  until  we  came  to  a  very  steep  place,  and  the  poor  weak 
prisoners  began  to  tremble  under  the  heavy  burden,  along 
in  front  of  the  guard  who  had  his  gun  in  hand.  I  knew 
if  one  should  fall,  the  guard  might  suppose  he  was  trying 
to  escape  from  him,  and  fire  at  him  and  kill  him. 

I  took  up  a  stick  in  my  left  hand  to  steady  myself  and 
placing  my  right  arm  under  the  end  of  the  box  added  my 
strength  to  that  of  the  tired  men.  When  we  reached  the 
summit  of  the  mountain  we  found  the  grave  already  dug, 
but  it  was  much  too  short  for  the  box."  I  was  almost  ex- 
hausted and  came  near  falling.  The  grave  being  too  short, 
they  were  going  to  leave  the  corpse  until  morning  and  then 
return  and  bury  it.  But  I  said,  "Boys,  you  dig  the  grave 
longer  and  I  will  sing  for  you  while  you  work."  I  sang 
an  old  time  hymn,  and  they  lowered  the  box,  by  pounding 
and  jumping  upon  it  and  then  hurriedly  shoveled  in  the 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  2IQ 

dirt.  Then  I  said,  "Let  us  pray."  And  there  in  that  dreary 
place  I  prayed  for  the  poor  men  who  had  performed  this 
sad  rite  and  for  the  guard.  I  forgot  my  surroundings.  I 
thought  only  of  "SOME  MOTHER'S  BOY/'  who  perhaps  died 
with  a  broken  heart  without  a  mother's  care,  now  lying  in 
an  unknown  grave  far  away  from  home.  Perhaps  she  had 
prayed  for  him  and  God  had  sent  me  to  pray  over  the  lonely 
grave.  There  we  left  him  where  all  his  mistakes  should 
be  forgotten.  He  may  have  sought  and  found  pardon  in 
God.  Who  can  tell?  The  stars  were  now  shining  and  the 
stillness  filled  me  with  awe.  The  men  hurried  down  the 
mountain  side  to  the  prison,  leaving  me  behind  in  the  dim 
starlight.  I  found  my  way  to  the  stockade,  but  found  the 
door  locked  and  with  great  difficulty  I  made  them  hear  me 
and  was  admitted.  At  about  nine  o'clock  the  prisoners 
were  brought  together  to  have  a  meeting.  The  guard  ridi- 
culed. The  prisoners  wondered  at  seeing  a  woman  preach- 
ing. How  I  trembled!  Oh,  for  some  one  to  share  my 
burden !  I  asked,  "Is  there  one  Christian  here  among  you 
prisoners?"  as  I  shook  hands  with  them  and  some  of  them 
pointing  out  an  old  colored  woman,  said,  "She's  a  Chris- 
tian." I  clasped  her  hand,  hardened  by  work,  and  said. 
"Will  you  pray  for  me,  sister?"  "Yes,"  she  said,  "Yes,  I 
will,  honey." 

God  was  there  to  touch  and  tender  those  hearts.  They 
were  unusued  to  meetings  of  this  character,  and  perhaps 
had  never  heard  of  a  woman  preaching.  I  well  knew  that 
unless  God  undertook  for  me  the  meeting  would  be  a  fail- 
ure. There  seemed  to  be  no  way  to  reach  these  hard 
hearts.  The  men  and  women  stared  at  me.  Suddenly  I 
thought  of  the  great  danger  I  was  in,  and  the  risk  I  had 
to  run  in  getting  back  to  the  village  that  night.  I  saw  the 


22O  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

head  of  a  young  prison  boy  droop  over  on  a  man's  shoul- 
der, too  sleepy  to  listen  longer.  Then  I  heard  and  saw  no 
more,  but  fell  unconscious  to  the  floor.  The  weariness 
from  the  day's  labor  proved  too  much  for  my  strength. 
But  God  used  my  weakness  to  reach  these  hearts  and  when 
I  regained  consciousness,  men  and  women  with  tears,  sobs 
and  prayers,  were  crying  to  God  for  mercy  and  forgive- 
ness— pleading  for  help  to  be  better  men  and  women.  I 
hope  I  shall  meet  many  of  them  in  heaven  "when  the  roll 
is  called  up  yonder"  for  they  truly  seemed  to  bring  forth 
fruit  meet  for  repentance. 

The  following  day  was  spent  ainong  the  sick  and  dying 
in  the  village.  I  had  asked  the  privilege  in  the  morning  to 
go  with  the  train  men  to  the  prison  pest  house  where  the 
sick  prisoners  were,  but  was  refused  by  the  train  crew,  some 
of  them  ridiculing  me  and  my  work.  I  had  only  kindly 
asked  them  the  privilege,  and  then  exhorted  them  to  come 
to  Christ.  I  then  told  them  I  feared  the  next  message 
would  be  judgment  from  God.  God  bless  the  railroad  men 
if  some  of  them  do  make  mistakes!  My  heart  goes  out  for 
them  as  they  are  always  in  much  danger.  I  make  it  a  rule 
of  my  life  to  always  pray  for  every  train  on  which  I  travel 
with  its  crew  and  passengers.  And  hitherto  God  has  been 
my  help.  Bless  His  holy  name ! 

WRECK  OF  A  COAL  TRAIN. 

When  I  had  returned  to  the  boarding  house  in  the  even- 
ing I  lay  down  to  rest.  Many  striking  things  occurred  in 
this  place:  As  I  lay  resting,  dishes  were  rattling  and  chil- 
dren were  crying  in  adjoining  rooms,  my  room  door  lead- 
ing into  the  open  hall  was  standing  open,  and  in  came  a 
drove  of  little  pigs.  I  looked  up  to  see  what  it  was,  and 
one  had  walked  up  to  the  fireplace  where  was  burning  a 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  221 

low  fire,  and  stood  warming  its  nose.  But  they  soon  grew 
tired  of  indoor  life  and  all  quickly  scampered  out  as  they 
had  come  in.  They  had  seemed  as  much  at  home  there  as 
myself.  Amid  this  confusion  I  fell  asleep.  How  long  I 
slept  I  do  not  know.  I  was  awakened  by  heart-rending 
cries  from  men  and  women.  I  sprang  up  and  throwing  a 
shawl  over  my  head,  I  ran  out  in  the  rain  to  see  what  I 
could  do  to  help,  for  I  knew  some  one  was  in  great  agony. 
What  I  saw  I  shall  never  forget.  The  coal  train  and  its 
crew  that  had  gone  out  in  the  morning  had  come  in.  THE 
ENGINE  WAS  DITCHED  in  a  terrible  manner  and  men  were 
crushed  in  the  wreck.  Women  were  screaming  as  they  ran 
to  see  if  their  loved  ones  were  among  the  victims.  I  met 
the  same  men  I  had  warned  in  the  morning  carrying  on  a 
board  the  fireman  badly  cut  and  bruised.  I  said,  "Men,  I 
gave  you  the  warning  this  morning.  You  rejected  my 
counsel  and  I  thought  judgment  would  come,  but  I  little 
thought  it  would  come  so  soon."  They  carried  the  wound- 
ed man  to  an  old  baggage  car.  People  were  so  excited 
they  did  not  know  what  to  do.  Here  I  was  to  learn  a  les- 
son in  surgery.  I  found  an  old  pail  and  brought  some 
water.  Some  bystanders  gave  me  their  handkerchiefs  and 
I  proceeded  to  wash  the  blood  from  the  poor  wounded  head 
and  limb,  which  was  much  crushed,  and  helped  the  doctor 
to  bind  up  the  wounds.  Soon  there  came  a  call  for  help 
from  the  scene  of  the  disaster.  A  messenger  came  run- 
ning, saying,  "Come  quick !  there  is  a  man  dying  whom  we 
found  under  the  engine."  It  was  very  dark,  but  I  hurried 
along  through  the  mud  and  rain  after  the  doctor  to  the 
scene  of  suffering.  They  had  carried  him  into  the  nearest 
hut,  and  he  was  lying  upon  the  floor  unconscious.  Kneel- 
ing beside  him  I  raised  his  head  upon  my  hand.  Conscious- 


222  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

ness  returned.  I  cried,  "Jesus  can  save  you  even  now;  He 
loves  you.  He  will  forgive  you  now,  only  believe  on  Him." 
He  replied,  "I  do  believe  He  does  save  me  just  now." 
Glory  to  God !  He  is  a  present  help  in  time  of  need ;  a 
friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother.  Dear  reader, 
it  is  better  to  be  saved  before  the  crash  comes.  The  man 
was  suffering  terribly.  The  women,  thinking  they  must  do 
something,  had  poured  turpentine  into  the  wounds  think- 
ing it  was  camphor.  We  washed  the  wounds  and  I  as- 
sisted the  physician  in  setting  the  broken  limbs.  God  won- 
derfully helped  me  there  to  practice  what  I  preached,  and 
I  found  what  it  means  to  love  my  neighbor  as  myself. 
These  railroad  men  were  my  neighbors,  and  they  were 
suffering  and  in  a  dying  condition.  One  of  the  poor  men 
cried  piteously  for  his  mother.  I  traveled  on  the  train  on 
which  one  of  the  wounded  men  was  taken  to  the  city 
where  his  mother  lived  and  helped  to  care  for  him  on  the 
way.  We  were  delayed  at  that  camp  for  two  days.  I  will 
never  forget  those  days  of  service  and  suffering. 

THE   SUGAR    CAMPS. 

At  one  time,  I  went  into  the  Sugar  Refining  Stockades 
in  Texas.  Leaving  the  train,  we  had  to  walk  a  long  dis- 
tance to  the  first  camp.  The  superintendent  was  angry  at 
us  for  coming,  and  ordered  us  to  go  to  the  next  camp.  He 
said  there  were  women  at  the  other  stockade  and  that  he 
would  not  let  us  have  any  meeting,  any  way,  with  his  men. 
We  asked  him  if  he  would  please  send  a  boy  to  carry  our 
luggage,  and  he  refused,  so  we  started  on  alone,  to  walk  a 
long  way.  When  we  arrived  at  the  second  camp  we  found 
only  one  guard  and  a  couple  of  prisoners  working,  and  no 
women  within  miles.  When  the  guard  saw  the  situation, 
he  seemed  sorry  for  us,  and  we  were  allowed  to  rest  and 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  223 

wait  until  the  return  of  the  prisoners,  who  were  at  work 
at  a  distance  on  railroad  repairs.  In  the  meantime  he  sent 
a  man  to  another  stockade  some  miles  away,  and  the  cap- 
tain's wife  there  agreed  to  entertain  us,  for  which  we  were 
thankful.  We  had  a  meeting  after  the  men  came  to  camp, 
and  the  guards  came  to  us  and  said  that  the  women  at  the 
camp  mentioned  before  had  sent  word  that  t\  ey  would  not 
keep  us  over  night.  What  could  we  do?  Finally  I  said, 
"Can  you  take  us  to  the  depot  ?"  They  answered  that  they 
had  no  conveyance  but  AN  OLD  MULE  AND  A  CART.  I  said, 
"That  is  all  right."  So  they  got  the  mule  and  cart  and  helped 
us  in,  and  handed  us  our  luggage.  Then  they  sent  a  col- 
ored boy  to  go  before  the  mule  with  a  lantern,  and  another 
followed  after.  In  this  way  we  went  on  until  we  reached 
the  little  country  depot,  which  was  all  dark.  One  of  the 
prisoners,  who  went  with  us,  lighted  the  lantern  inside, 
and  we  called  to  the  ticket  agent,  who  had  retired,  asking 
him  to  please  check  our  luggage  to  San  Antonio.  This 
he  refused  to  do,  so  I  said,  "We  are  Christian  women  and 
will  give  you  almost  any  price,  if  your  wife  will  allow  us 
to  stay  with  her  until  morning."  He  was  angry,  still  refus- 
ing to  get  up  to  check  our  luggage.  He  said  he  was  not 
paid  for  night  work.  We  could  not  have  gotten  on  the 
car  had  it  not  been  for  a  gentleman,  going  on  the  same 
train,  who  had  his  servant  help  us.  We  went  to  San  An- 
tonio before  we  could  get  a  place  to  rest  and  it  was  then 
morning,  but  God  blessed  us  in  holding  services  in  the  prison 
there  that  day.  I  never  reported  the  agent  who  was  so 
rude  to  us,  as  I  was  sorry  for  him,  for  I  was  told  he  was 
a  cripple,  and  I  thought  he  needed  his  work  to  provide  for 
his  family. 

IN  A  GAMBLING  SALOON. 

From  Knoxville,  Tenn.,   I  went  one  night  to  the  coal 


224  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

mine  region.  I  asked  the  landlord  at  the  hotel  for  some 
one  to  show  me  a  way  to  the  stockade  some  distance,  and 
he  sent  his  chore  boy  with  me.  We  had  a  long  walk,  and 
returned  after  meeting  at  night.  It  was  late  and  as  we 
came  down  the  mountain  side  I  saw  a  light  at  a  little  dis- 
tance, and  I  said,' "Where  is  that  light?''  He  said,  "That 
is  the  wickedest  place;  they  kill  people  there."  Without 
waiting  to  consider  the  danger  I  might  be  in,  I  said,  "Wait 
here  for  me,"  and  I  hastened  up  the  valley  and  into  the 
place,  which  I  found  to  be  a  gambling  saloon.  Then,  with- 
out waiting,  I  poured  out  to  them  the  Gospel  message 
which  burned  in  my  heart,  I  fell  on  my  knees  and  prayed" 
to  God  to  save  them  from  the  destruction  to  which  they 
were  going.  Then  I  rushed  out  into  the  darkness  again, 
and  found  the  boy  waiting  with  the  lantern  and  we  went 
on  our  way.  .  I  was  thoroughly  alarmed  next  day  when  I 
realized  the  risk  I  had  taken  in  going  into  such  a  place,  but 
God  has  wrought  mightily  for  me  all  these  years  and  pre- 
served me  from  harm.  As  I  write  I  feel  near  home  and 
heaven.  Jesus  is  there.  Soon  I  shall  be  with  Him. 

CONDITION  OF  CONVICTS. 

I  wish  that  some  who  whine  so  much  in  church  about 
taking  up  the  cross  could  see  the  inside  of  those  stockades 
as  I  saw  them — see  the  suffering  that  existed,  the  sorrow- 
ful, heart-broken  prisoners  with  no  ray  of  hope,  no  one  to 
care  about  them ;  everything  poor,  scarcely  enough  to  keep 
them  alive ;  the  poorest  of  places  to  sleep ;  men  fastened  to 
a  large  post  in  the  middle  of  the  stockade  by  a  heavy  chain, 
compelled  to  wear  their  clothing  till  it  would  decay  on 
them,  often  so  ragged  that  they  could  not  hide  their  naked- 
ness, and  guarded  by  bloodhounds  and  armed  men.  It  was 
not  proper  under  other  circumstances  for  a  woman  to  see 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  225 

men  in  such  conditions,  but  they  had  souls  to  be  saved  or 
lost,  and  the  Lord  had  commissioned  me  to  go  to  these  men 
and  tell  them  that  Jesus  loved  them  and  wanted  to  save  and 
deliver  them  from  the  power  of  the  devil  who  got  them  into 
such  places. 

UNJUSTLY  CONDEMNED. 

Judges  often  sentence  men  and  women  to  years  of  hard 
labor  in  prison  for  the  slightest  offenses.  An  old  colored 
man  employed  in  a  store  took  a  box  of  cigars,  but  regret- 
ting the  act,  returned  them  confessing  his  wrong,  and 
asked  forgiveness.  He  was  arrested  and  sentenced  to 
twenty-five  years  in  the  stockade;  one  year  for  each  cigar. 
Another  colored  man  was  found  on  the  street  at  night 
carrying  five  ears  of  corn.  He  was  sentenced  to  prison  for 
five  years.  He  with  others  was  working  where  the  earth 
caved  in  and  killed  him.  Who  will  answer  in  the  day  of 
Judgment  for  that  man's  life  and  death?  Yes,  and  his  soul? 
Were  I  to  here  relate  some  things  I  know  to  be  true,  awful 
in  the  extreme,  they  would  not  be  believed.  Let  us  have 
the  laws  of  God  enforced.  Let  those  who  may  be  anxious 
to  punish  wrong  and  have  men  condemned  upon  circum- 
stantial evidence,  look  into  their  own  hearts  and  lives  and 
see  if  they  have  been  free  from  condemnation.  I  do  not 
want  to  condemn  judges  nor  jurymen,  for  they  are  not  all 
to  blame.  A  man  or  woman  should  never  be  condemned 
until  known  to  be  guilty.  People  are  often  prejudiced,  and 
without  proper  investigation  many  are  condemned  to  pun- 
ishment for  crimes  of  which  they  are  innocent.  The  cries 
of  such  are  come  up  before  the  Lord  and  He  will  hear  and 
answer  prayer.  At  one  time  there  were  forty  stockades  in 


226  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

one  state  and  about  four  thousand  prisoners  in  one  state. 
Let  us  help  those  that  are  down. 

In  many  stockades  I  found  men  and  women  living  to- 
gether promiscuously  and  children  being  born  in  the  camp. 
The  poor  creatures  were  subjected  to  all  kinds  of  abuse 
and  suffering,  the  women  in  great  need  of  better  quarters, 
better  food,  and  care.  Ofttimes  they  were  afraid  for  their 
very  lives.  Many  were  killed  outright;  in  one  place  where 
they  were  far  out  in  the  coal  mines  many  were  brutally 
whipped  and  ill-treated.  I  went  to  the  Lord  in  prayer,  and 
then  to  the  state  authorities  and  the  Governor  went  out 
with  men  and  opened  the  graves  of  many,  who  tiad  died  in 
camps.  One  of  the  officers  was  imprisoned  for  ten  years ; 
another  made  his  escape;  others  were  dealt  with  more  or 
less  severely.  I  had  been  out  there  myself,  getting  on  the 
engine  to  ride  out  to  the  stockade,  and  requested  to  see  the 
prisoners  after  their  day's  work  was  done,  and  as  they  came 
up  from  the  mines  they  were  so  ragged  that  I  was  com- 
pelled to  turn  my  back  as  they  passed.  I  got  permission  to 
hold  a  Gospel  meeting.  After  it  was  over,  I  requested  the 
captain  to  let  one  of  his  men  take  us  to  the  next  house,  a 
distance  of  a  mile  or  more  from  the  camp.  When  we 
knocked  asking  permission  to  stay  for  the  night,  and  telling 
who  we  were,  the  woman  of  the  house  said,  "You  had  bet- 
ter go  and  preach  to  those  prison  guards,  who  are  killing 
off  the  poor  prisoners."  She  said  she  could  not  stand  it  to 
hear  such  awful  cries  as  reached  her  ears  even  at  that  dis- 
tance from  the  stockade.  She  told  the  guard  just  what  she 
thought  of  the  brutality  shown  the  prisoners  and  convicts. 
He  said  he  was  not  to  blame.  He  seemed  to  be  a  kind 
young  man. 

In  one  place  I  found  one  old  colored  man  who  was  con- 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  227 

demned  to  death.  He  was  filthy  and  dirty  and  had  nothing 
to  lie  on  but  a  heap  of  straw ;  he  was  hungry  and  his  cell 
was  dark  and  damp.  My  heart  ached  to  see  him  so  shame- 
fully abused.  Even  condemned  men  have  rights  and  they 
should  be  respected;  it  is  enough  for  them  to  know  that 
they  are  to  die  a  horrible  death,  without  having  all  kinds 
of  abuse  heaped  upon  them;  yet  I  have  seen  this  in  many 
prisons.  How  is  it  that  friends  are  so  often  denied  the 
privilege  of  seeing  those  that  are  under  death  sentence  or 
those  who  are  sick  and  dying?  Let  the  truth  be  told  and 
let  there  be  some  one  to  investigate  these  things.  I  believe 
that  those  who  are  most  against  prisoners,  are  those  who 
are  not  familiar  with  the  conditions.  Let  good  discipline 
be  maintained,  but  let  prisoners  never  be  brutally  treated, 
simply  because  they  are  powerless  to  help  themselves.  I 
find  many  things  going  on  that  are  not  right,  but  I  have 
never  made  complaint  to  the  governors  of  the  states,  unless 
compelled  to  do  so,  because  of  cases  of  extreme  cruelty. 

NEED    OF    REFORM. 

There  is  great  need  of  reformation  in  the  management 
of  prisons,  and  especially  in  the  prison  lease  system  and 
management  of  women  prisoners  in  the  south.  Oh,  the 
shocking  sights  that  have  greeted  me  on  almost  every 
hand!  There  is  nothing  more  heart-rending  to  me  than 
the  terrible,  brutal  treatment  of  helpless  humanity.  These 
prisoners  are  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  officers  who  are  often- 
times void  of  feeling,  coarse  and  vulgar  in  the  extreme. 
To  get  positions  and  make  money  is  the  aim  of  many  of 
today.  The  poor  unfortunates  shut  up  in  prisons  and 
asylums  are  in  many  cases  most  shamefully  mistreated. 
They  are  supposed  to  be  there  for  the  purpose  of  reforma- 
tion or  treatment,  but  were  it  not  for  the  grace  of  God  in 


228  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

my  soul,  I  never  could  endure  the  torture  and  anguish  re- 
sulting from  the  sufferings  I  find  among  these  poor  help- 
less men  and  women.  I  am  not  supposed  to  know  the  con- 
ditions in  these  places,  but  twenty  years  of  experience  going 
inside  these  walls  have  opened  my  eyes  and  I  get  behind 
the  scenes.  There  is  a  time  of  settling  up  of  accounts  and 
there  will  be  a  final  reckoning  day  at  the  judgment  bar  of 
God,  for  what  was  done  in  this  life,  and  how  many  will  be 
weighed  in  the  balance  and  found  wanting ! 

The  following  paper  by  Clarissa  Olds  Keeler  was  writ- 
ten to  Brother  S.  B.  Shaw  and  read  at  the  meeting  of  the 
National  Convocation  for  Prayer  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  May, 
1903,  and  will  serve  to  convey  some  idea  of  conditions  as 
they  have  existed  in  some  parts  of  our  land;  though  we 
are  glad  to  say  that  they  are  somewhat  improved,  in  many 
places  at  least. 

"LET    THE    SIGHING    OF    THE    PEISONEE    COME    BEFORE 

THEE." 

* '  Now  mine  eyes  shall  be  open,  and  mine  ears  attent  unto  the 
prayer  that  is  made  in  this  place." — 2  Chron.  7:15. 

When  attending  the  Christian  Workers'  Convention  in  New  York 
in  1887  a  man  from  Tennessee  also  attending  the  convention,  said  to 
me,  "1  wonder  the  Christian  people  do  not  take  up  the  work  of 
alleviating  the  sufferings  of  prisoners  in  the  Southern  States." 
For  years  he  had  been  an  eye  witness  to  treatment  which  he  described 
as  "most  atrocious,'''  and  the  condition  of  the  convicts,  especially 
those  hired  to  contractors  to  work  in  coal  mines,  as  one  of  "starva- 
tion, fear  and  disgusting  filth."  Since  these  words  were  spoken  to 
me  I  have  spared  no  pains  to  inform  myself  about  this  new  and 
most  revolting  form  of  slavery,  and  I  can  find  no  words  more 
applicable  than  these :  l  ( This  is  a  people  robbed  and  spoiled ;  they 
are  all  of  them  snared  in  holes,  and  they  are  hid  in  prison  houses; 
they  are  for  a  prey,  and  none  delivereth;  for  a  spoil  and  none  saith, 


OR   A   LABOR  OF   LOVE  22Q 

Eestore.  Who  among  you  will  give  ear  to  this?  Who  will  hearken 
and  hear  for  the  time  to  come?"  (Isaiah  42:22,  23.) 

Each  one  of  the  twelve  convict  leasing  states  has  had  its  own 
bloody  record  which  has  been  written  down  in  God's  book.  Influential 
politicians,  United  States  Senators  from  both  north  and  south,  mem- 
bers of  state  legislatures,  private  citizens,  heartless  corporations,  have 
all  shared  in  the  money  coined  out  of  the  bodies  and  blood  of  con- 
victs in  our  southern  states. 

But  it  is  not  my  purpose  now  to  go  over  the  past.  Wherever 
the  convict  lease  system  has  been  introduced  "Its  presence  has,"  as 
a  Georgian  once  said,  "been  marked  by  a  trail  of  blood."  The 
accounts  of  this  ghastly  institution  are  too  revolting  to  present. 

But  I  want  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Christian  people  to  the 
present  condition  of  convicts,  most  of  whom  are  colored,  and  many 
of  whom  are  guilty  of  but  trifling  offences  and  some  of  them  none 
at  all. 

A  man  in  Buncome  County,  North  Carolina,  wrote  to  the  Ashe- 
ville  Gazette,  under  date  of  March  15,  1903:  "Where  are  we  at  and 
where  is  the  society  for  the  prevention  of  cruelty  to  animals  that 
they  or  the  Christian  world  have  never  heard  the  cries  from  the  poor 
unfortunate  prisoners  in  the  buck  and  the  ringing  of  the  cruel 
blood  stained  lash?  I  have  seen  white  men  beaten  until  their  persons 
were  blue  and  blood  oozing  from  the  lash  from  the  captain's  hands 
in  the  Buncome  chain-gang.  And  negroes — there  is  no  use  talking." 
These  prisoners,  the  writer  says,  have  been  guilty  of  some  misde- 
meanor and  being  poor  and  unable  to  pay  a  fine  are  "sent  to  the 
road  prison  and  there*  the  lash  is  administered  on  the  naked  back 
contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the  constitution  in  abolishing  imprisonment 
for  debt  and  the  lash  at  the  whipping-post." 

Now  I  would  suggest  that  a  society  be  formed  for  the  prevention 
of  cruelty  to  prisoners.  While  the  good  people  are  praying  for  the 
outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  other  lands  may  they  not  forget 
that  we  need  a  baptism  of  fire  right  here  in  our  own  land. 

Our  Saviour's  last  act  of  mercy  and  forgiving  love  was  shown 
toward  a  prisoner  and  shall  we  imitate  His  example,  or  shall  we  not? 
His  last  command  was:  "Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the 
gospel  to  every  creature."  How  many  inmates  of  our  prisons  have 
the  gospel  presented  to  them?  When  we  all  meet  at  the  judgment,  as 


230  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

meet  we  must,  how  many  will  be  there  from  the  mining  pits  and 
prison  pens  who  can  say  truthfully,  ' '  No  man  cared  for  my  soul  1 ' ' 
Neither  do  we  care  for  the  bodies  of  these  unfortunates;  and  as 
proof  of  this  I  will  give  you  a  few  extracts  from  papers  of  recent 
date. 

When  the  National  Conference  of  Charities  and  Corrections  was 
holding  its  session  in  Atlanta  the  first  of  the  present  month,  some 
of  the  delegates  were  invited  to  visit  the  city  prison  stockade  where 
misdemeanor  convicts  are  housed  at  night.  This  was  done  "just  for 
the  amusement  of  the  delegates."  Hear  what  Mr.  Timothy  Nichol- 
son of  Indiana,  a  delegate,  said  about  his  visit  to  this  "school  of 
crime."  He  says:  "I  found  in  one  room  one  hundred  and  sixty 
prisoners,  white  men  and  women,  black  men  and  women  and  even 
children,  both  black  and  white,  male  and  female,  all  mix<ed  together 
indiscriminately.  I  was  surprised  and  shocked  to  find  such  a  condi- 
tion of  affairs  in  a  civilized  country.  It  is  simply  a  shame  and 
disgrace  to  civilization. ' '  The  delegates  declared  the  place  * '  inhu- 
man and  degrading."  Yet  this  does  not  fully  represent  the  awful 
pen  picture  that  might  be  given  of  this  class  of  prisoners  in  the 
county  chain  gangs  all  over  the  state. 

The  following  extracts  are  taken  from  an  account  given  by  an 
Atlanta  correspondent  of  the  Washington  Post  written  under  date  of 
May  5,  1903.  ' '  Eevelations  made  to  the  Ware  County  grand  jury 
in  regard  to  the  horrors  of  the  Georgia  convict  camps  reached 

Governor  Terrell  today.  Hon.  E M ,  one  of  the  leading 

members  of  the  Georgia  House  of  Eepresentatives,  is  involved  in  the 
findings  of  the  grand  jury. 

"According  to  the  report  M and  his  brother  operate  an  exten- 
sive camp  in  Lowndes  County.  Witnesses  before  the  grand  jury 

testified  that  in  the  M camp  the  brutalities  are  such  that  it  is 

revolting  to  describe  them.  For  the  slightest  offence,  it  is  alleged, 
prisoners  are  stripped  and  chained  and  unmercifully  lashed  by  the 

whipping  bosses.  It  is  also  alleged  that  the  M brothers  go 

into  counties  adjoining  Lowndes,  pay  the  fines  of  misdemeanor 
convicts,  carry  such  convicts  to  their  Ware  County  (convict)  camp 
and  there  keep  them  in  serviture  long  after  the  term  for  which 
the  criminals  were  sentenced  have  expired. 

"The  grand  jury  claims  that  at  least  twenty  citizens  of  Ware 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  23! 

County  are  held   as  slaves  in  M 's  camp  although  their  terms 

expired  over  a  year  ago.  There  men  are  kept  in  stockade  about  which 
armed  guards  march  in  order  to  prevent  an  escape,  and  men  thus 
illegally  detained  who  escaped  have  been  chased  by  bloodhounds  and 
recaptured." 

Official  reports  show  that  this  class  of  convicts  are  guilty  of  but 
trifling  offences  and  some  are  vagrants.  (For  further  particulars 
see  Atlanta  Journal  May  5  and  11,  1903.) 

The  penitentiary  convicts  of  Georgia  are  worked  in  coal  mines  and 
are  subject  to  the  same  treatment.  An  experienced  penologist  said 
recently  concerning  convicts  worked  in  the  mines:  "In  the  rooms  of 
the  mines  are  perpetrated  practices  too  horrible  to  mention.  They 
become  the  nesting  places  of  a  bestiality  that  in  many  c^ses  lead  the 
liberated  convict  into  that  crime  to  punish  which  the  mob,  the  rope 
and  the  stake  are  ever  ready."  (See  Atlanta  Constitution,  May  14, 
1903.) 

Under  the  heading  ' '  Convict  Camp  Horrors, ' '  the  editor  of  the 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  Commercial  Appeal  says  in  his  paper,  dated 
April  11,  1903,  concerning  the  facts  recently  brought  out  by  the 
legislative  investigating  committee :  ' '  The  stories  coming  from  Brushy 
Mountain  mines,  with  side  lights  from  the  state's  convict  system, 
generally,  furnish  painful  reading  to  the  people  of  Tennessee.  When 
human  beings  who  through  fault  or  fortune's  untowardness  are  con- 
demned to  helpless  and  unresisting  servitude  and  who  are  subjected 
to  torments  "and  tortures,  floggings  and  flaggellations  which  are  merci- 
ful only  where  they  terminated  in  speedy  death,  humanity  is  out- 
raged and  a  sort  of  savagery  in  the  public  cries  out  for  speedy 
vengeance."  Continuing  the  editor  says: 

' '  Convicts  have  been  whipped  to  death.  Convicts  have  been  whipped 
into  physical  helplessness.  Convicts  have  been  whipped  sufficiently  to 
keep  them  in  bed  for  months  and  injure  them  permanently.  Tortur- 
ing them  in  the  prison  or  in  the  mine  recesses  is  a  sin  against  high 
heaven. ' '  These  are  some  of  the  facts  brought  to  light  by  the 
prison  investigating  committee. 

The  average  number  of  prisoners  worked  in  the  Brushy  Mountain 
mines  is  about  seven  hundred  and  fifty.  These  convicts,  which  form 
but  a  part  of  the  number  of  the  state 's  convicts,  and  who  were  so 
inhumanly  treated,  earned  last  year  for  the  state,  clear  of  all  ex- 


232  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

penses,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-five  thousaand,  seven 
hundred  dollars.  (See  Nashville  American,  March  30,  1903.) 

Recent  developments  also  show  that  many  innocent  men  are  kid- 
napped and  worked  and  treated  as  convicts;  especially  is  this  done 
in  Alabama.  Women  and  children  share  the  same  fate.  During 
the  recent  investigation  into  the  enforced  slavery  of  negroes  in 
Alabama  by  the  United  States  Secret  Service,  among  the  abuses 
which  were  unearthed  was  the  whipping  to  death  of  a  negro  woman. 
' '  This  woman  accused  of  being  rebellious  was  laid  across  a  log  and 
given  one  hundred  lashes.  Still  showing  a  rebellious  spirit  her  hands 
were  tied,  and  the  rope  was  thrown  over  the  limb  of  a  tree  and 
pulled  up  so  as  to  make  it  barely  possible  for  her  feet  to  reach  the 
ground.  The  woman,  it  is  said,  died  two  days  later."  (See  Wash- 
ington Time*-,  May  29,  1903.) 

The  system  of  peonage  slavery  has  been  practiced  for  years  in 
Alabama  and  Georgia.  One  of  the  most  successful  plans  practiced  is 
to  bring  a  negro  before  a  magistrate  on  a  flimsy  charge.  As  the 
matter  has  been  arranged  beforehand,  the  negro  is  convicted,  and 
having  no  money  to  pay  his  fine,  a  white  man  offers  to  advance  him 
money  provided  the  negro  will  make  a  labor  contract  with  him  for 
the  money  and  trouble  he  has  taken  to  keep  the  negro  out  of  jail. 
He  is  taken  away  and  begins  what  is  usually  a  long  term  of  creul 
servitude,  frequently  whipped  unmercifully,  and  every  moment 
watched  by  armed  guards  ready  to  shoot  him  down  at  any  attempt 
to  escape. 

Among  the  evils  which  have  grown  out  of  the  prison  contract  sys- 
tem, the  number  of  which  is  legion,  is  that  of  turning  out  men  and 
women,  boys  and  girls,  thoroughly  educated  in  these  schools  of  crime. 
They  are  thrown  upon  the  world  homeless  and  friendless  to  poison 
and  destroy  those  with  whom  they  come  in  contact.  Many  soon  find 
their  way  back  into  prison,  and  some  end  their  lives  upon  the  gal- 
lows. 

We  sometimes  on  a  Sabbath  morning  hear  the  President  of  the 
United  States  prayed  for,  but  what  minister  ever  prays  for  the  po:>r 
parish  behind  prison  bars? 

When  the  book  is  opened  and  we  hear  the  words:  "I  was  sick 
and  in  prison,  and  ye  visited  me  not,"  what  are  we  going  to  answer? 
1415  A.  St.,  S.  E.,  Washington,  D.  C.  CLARISSA  OLDS  KEELER. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  233 

For  about  four  years  at  times  Mrs.  M.  A.  Perry,  of 
Washington,  D  C,  traveled  with  me.  In  answer  to  my  re- 
quest for  a  brief  report  oi  the  work  during  that  time  I  re- 
ceived a  lengthy  letter,  from  which  I  extract  the  following: 
Dear  Sister  Wheaton : 

I  praise  God  for  the  privilege  of  adding  a  few  words  for 
your  book  May  the  blessing  of  God  rest  upon  it.  To  the 
readers  I  will  say:  I  first  met  Mrs.  Wheaton  in  Boston,  in 
February,  1893,  in  the  home  of  H.  L.  Hastings,  the  well- 
known  publisher,  where  she  was  a  guest.  She  had  then 
spent  ten  years  in  prison  and  other  evangelistic  work.  I  had 
visited  a  jail  and  stationhouses,  but  never  a  penitentiary. 
We  first  went  to  the  Boston  and  Maine  Railway  office. 
Sister  Wheaton  said:  "You  pray  while  I  go  and  ask  for 
a  pass  to  go  to  the  Thomaston,  Maine,  prison."  In  about 
ten  minutes  she  returned  with  the  desired  transportation. 
By  the  kindness  of  the  railroad  officials  from  ocean  to  ocean 
they  have  helped  to  forward  the  work  of  God.  Many 
earnest  prayers  are  offered  by  Mrs.  Wheaton  for  these  men. 
We  never  boarded  a  train  without  asking  our  Heavenly 
Father  to  bless  the  train  men  from  the  engineer  to  the 
flagman  Many  times  we  have  spoken  to  conductors  who 
have  said,  "No  one  ever  talks  to  railroad  men  about  their 
souls." 

At  Thomaston  we  had  to  wait  until  Sunday  morning  to 
enter  the  prison.  If  ever  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  revealed 
Himself  in  a  prison  chapel  He  was  in  the  midst  that  Sab- 
bath day.  While  "Mother  Wheaton"  preached,  I  prayed 
for  her  and  the  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  was  so  mani- 
fest that  every  man  expressed  a  desire  to  serve  God.  The 
result  of  that  day's  work  for  the  Master  will  not  be  known 
until  we  meet  when  Jesus  will  reward  his  servants. 

We  next  went  to  the  jail  in  Bangor,  Maine,  and  God 


234  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

blessed  the  work  there  in  the  salvation  of  souls.  Then  we 
went  to  the  prison  in  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  and  from 
there  to  the  Vermont  State  Prison  at  Windsor.  But  I  can- 
not tell  about  them  all !  But  wherever  we  went  I  saw  that 
the  prisoners,  both  men  and  women,  greeted  "Mother 
Wheaton"  with  a  heartfelt  welcome. 

We  went  to  the  prisons  of  New  York  state — to  Auburn, 
Sing  Sing,  the  Troy  jail  and  on  to  Buffalo.  We  visited 
the  penitentiaries  in  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  and  the 
workhouses  of  Maryland  and  the  District  of  Columbia.  We 
met  in  these  places  many  precious  souls  whom  the  Lord 
gave  his  life  to  redeem  and  many  of  them  were  Christians. 
The  blood  of  Jesus  is  all  powerful  to  reach  any  man  or 
woman  who  will  repent  and  forsake  sin  and  believe  in  Him. 
We  have  great  reason  to  praise  God  for  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  reach  the  hardest  hearts.  But  O,  there  are 
behind  the  bars  and  "in  the  shadow  of  the  walls"  loving 
and  tender  hearts.  O,  that  professors  of  religion  would 
wake  up  to  the  fact  that  when  Jesus,  the  King  of  Glory, 
shall  come  He  will  say,  "Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto 
the  least  of  these  my  brethren  ye  have  done  it  unto  me." 

May  God  by  his  presence  and  power  reveal  to  the  man- 
agers of  penal  institutions  in  every  land  and  nation  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  the  friend  of  sinners  in  every  condition.  I 
believe  the  dear  Lord  Himself  has  put  such  love  for 
prisoners  in  the  heart  of  our  sister  Wheaton  that  she  is 
willing  to  take  a  mother's  place — -no  matter  when  she  sees 
them.  In  riding  along  on  the  trains  sometimes  we  came 
to  prisoners  (leased  out  to  hard  labor)  in  the  most  un- 
expected places.  We  were  soon  off  the  train  to  look  after 
these  men  who  were  marched  from  the  camp  or  stockade. 

I  must  speak  of  some  of  the  experiences  we  had  in  the 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  235 

prisons,  stockades  and  prison  farms  of  the  southern  states. 
We  were,  in  most  cases,  courteously  received  and  enter- 
tained by  the  wardens  and  their  families.  God  bless  the 
men  who  have  done  what  they  could !  But  O,  how  I  have 
been  shocked  at  things  we  saw  in  these  places,  many  of 
which  I  cannot  write.  I  wish  I  could  give  some  idea  of 
how  glad  the  poor  manacled  prisoners  were  to  see  their 
white-haired  "mother"  come  again.  I  believe  the  seed  sown 
shall  not  be  lost. 

The  women  on  the  farms  are  required  to  roll  logs,  clear 
land  and  do  all  kinds  of  drudgery. 

We  went  to  the  camps,  the  phosphate  mines,  saw-mills, 
coal  mines,  and  the  turpentine  camps.  Sometimes  we  rode 
for  miles  in  wagons.  I  think  Mother  Wheaton  never  felt 
that  any  place  was  too  dangerous  or  too  out  of  the  way  for 
her  to  go  in  order  to  say  a  word  of  comfort  and  to  encour- 
age hearts.  We  sometimes  rode  on  the  engine  up  the  moun- 
tains to  camps  where  hundreds  of  prisoners  were  working. 
We  saw  men  with  iron  rings  around  their  necks  and  a 
chain  and  ball  attached,  some  with  chains  around  their 
waists  and  running  down  to  their  ankles  with  a  ring  at- 
tached. 

I  want  to  speak  especially  of  a  visit  to  one  of  the  state 
farms  where  all  the  prisoners,  with  two  exceptions,  were 
colored  women. 

When  we  arrived  at  the  station  there  was  no  vehicle  in 
sight  but  a.  buggy  and  mule  which  a  little  boy  was  driving. 
She  asked  him  to  take  us  to  the  women's  prison,  which  he 
kindly  did.  When  we  got  there  between  seventy  and  eighty 
women  were  at  dinner,  sitting  on  the  ground  under  the 
trees  with  their  little  tin  pails  which  held  boiled  bacon  and 
cowpeas,  with  a  piece  of  corn  bread  in  their  hands.  They 


236  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

had  worked  from  sunrise.  How  they  welcomed  "Mother 
Wheaton" !  Many  of  them  were  in  tears  as  she  began  to 
sing.  She  asked  how  many  of  them  had  seen  her  before. 
Many  hands  went  up  and  they  told  where  and  when  they 
had  seen  her  in  the  past.  How  they  shook  her  hand  and 
said,  "O,  'deed  I  is  glad  to  see  you  once  more,  honey." 
But  soon  they  had  to  go  back  to  the  field  till  dark.  After 
all  had  their  supper  we  went  to  the  stockade  where  they 
were  to  sleep,  to  hold  a  service.  Such  singing  I  never 
heard.  Then  "Mother  Wheaton"  preached,  prayed  and 
sang.  If  ever  God  answered  prayer  He  surely  did  for  those 
poor  women  and  in  place  of  that  stockade  there  is  now  a 
new  prison  house  with  things  reasonably  comfortable. 

We  went  to  other  farms,  stockades  and  prisons.  I  do 
thank  God  for  the  privilege  of  going  into  these  places  where 
"Mother  Wheaton"  was  the  first  white  woman  to  visit  or 
to  pray  and  sing.  Regardless  of  danger  in  approaching 
these  out-of-the-way  places,  her  love  for  God  and  for  those 
who  were  despised  and  downtrodden,  carried  her  through 
untold  hardships.  We  were  at  times  in  danger  of  blood- 
hounds, alligators  and  venomous  reptiles. 

I  am  sure  that  through  her  intercession  with  governors 
and  wardens  and  superintendents  "Mother  Wheaton's"  work 
has  proved  a  blessing  to  thousands  of  prisoners.  I  have  seen 
the  results  of  her  work  in  many  of  the  states.  Her  preach- 
ing and  singing  have  been  used  of  God,  but  above  all  I  knew 
that  the  hours  of  prevailing  prayer  have  been  a  still  greater 
power  for  good.  In  answer  to  prayer  God  has  opened  doors 
and  done  many  wonderful  things  whereof  we  are  glad. 

Again  we  went  to  the  South  to  visit  prisons  and  stock- 
ades where  we  had  been  in  former  years.  Great  changes 
had  been  made.  There  was  much  improvement  in  their 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  237 

condition.  I  Lope  the  time  may  soon  come  when  only  the 
law  of  love  and  kindness  shall  prevail. 

We  held  street  meetings  in  many  places.  One  night  after 
holding  one  of  these  open-air  services  we  boarded  a  train. 
A  man  and  wife  came  on  the  train.  She  told  us  that  her 
husband  had  attended  the  street  meeting  and  '  was  under 
such  conviction  for  sin  that  he  could  not  rest.  There  on 
the  train,  while  we  knelt  in  the  aisle  of  the  car,  he  was  con- 
verted to  God  and  went  on  his  way  rejoicing,  while  we  went 
to  visit  a  penitentiary  where  hundreds  of  men  and  women 
needed  the  same  work  of  grace  wrought  in  their  hearts. 

Often  we  saw  answers  to  prayer  in  the  healing  of  prison- 
ers who  were  sick.  God's  Word  is  true.  He  says  He  is 
no  respecter  of  persons,  and  He  is  able  to  do  more  than  we 
can  ask  or  think.  May  God  bless  every  soul  for  whom  we 
have  prayed. 

Sister  Wheaton  and  myself  have  spent  many  long  hours 
at  a  time  together  pleading  for  the  men  and  women  behind 
the  bars.  It  means  much  to  be  divinely  called  to  this 
work. 

Oh !  how  many  with  broken  hearts  lie  in  the  lonely  cells 
every  night !  May  God  help  everyone  who  reads  these 
pages  to  remember  that  there  is  one  MOTHER  of  all  the 
prisoners  who  weeps  and  prays  in  sympathy  with  them. 
I  wish  every  mother  and  wife,  or  sister,  who  has  a  precious 
one  "in  the  shadow  of  the  walls,"  would  pray  for  "Mother 
Wheaton/'  that  she  may  be  helped  of  God  in  preaching  the 
Word,  and  that  God's  blessing  may  rest  upon  her  for  her 
kind  loving  words  and  the  hand-clasp  that  reaches  so  many 
hearts.  Pray  that  health  and  strength  may  be  given  her  as 
she  comes  in  and  goes  out  among  these  erring  ones. 

I  know  she  has  been  through  deep  waters  and  great  sor- 


238  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

rows.  Her  life  has  been  one  of  self -sacrifice  in  behalf  of 
the  unfortunate.  May  God  bless  and  help  her  and  give 
ker  the  crown  of  righteousness  that  is  laid  up  for  the 
faithful. 

One  night  after  worship  at  the  home  of  the  warden  with 
whom  we  'were  stopping,  Sister  Wheaton  was  singing  a 
hymn,  when  suddenly  the  warden  asked,  ''Sister  Wheaton, 
will  you  come  over  into  the  prison-yard  and  finish  that 
hymn?"  She  replied  she  would  gladly  do  so  if  he  thought 
it  would  do  good.  So  we  hastened  to  the  prison-yard,  some 
little  distance  away,  and  quietly  entered  the  enclosure,  and 
she  began  singing.  Her  clear,  strong  voice  awakened  the 
sleeping  prisoners.  The  incident  was  so  unusual  that  some 
of  them  (as  we  were  told  afterward),  negroes  especially, 
awaking  suddenly,  thought  that  the  Judgment  Day  had 
come,  and  tumbling  out  of  bed,  fell  upon  their  knees  and 
began  praying  for  God  to  have  mercy  upon  them  and  save 
their  souls ;  so  God  evidently  used  the  song  to  bring  con- 
viction to  hearts.  After  the  singing  we  returned  as  quietly 
as  we  had  come,  trusting  the  results  with  God. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Work  in  Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  and  Santa  Fe,  New 
Mexico 

Soon  after  starling  out  in  my  work,  when  changing  cars 
in  an  Iowa  town  I  saw  a  crowd  of  people  who  were  cu- 
riously gazing  upon  three  young  men  who  were  hand- 
cuffed, and  bound  together  being  taken  to  the  state's  prison 
at  Fort  Madison.  1  went  up  to  them,  shook  hands, 
and  said,  "I  am  sorry  for  you.  Don't  be  discour- 
aged. Cheer  up.  Give  God  your  hearts.  Obey  the  rules. 
Do  the  best  yon  can  and  God  will  do  the  rest."  They 
seemed  cheered  and  relieved  seeing  I  neither  feared  nor 
shunned  them.  I  inquired  their  names  and  told  them  I 
would  try  to  see  them  in  prison,  but  did  not  know  how  soon. 

A  few  weeks  later  I  went  to  Fort  Madison  and  obtained 
permission  of  the  Chaplain,  W.  C.  Gunn,  to  hold  a  meeting 
the  following  Sunday.  This  was  my  first  effort  to  hold  di- 
vine service  in  a  prison.  Then  I  inquired  for  the  three 
young  men  I  had  seen  when  on  their  way  there,  but  could 
find  no  record  of  them.  I  assured  the  Chaplain  they  were 
there  and  observing  the  prisoners  closely  I  saw  one  of  them 
at  work.  As  our  eyes  met,  I  saw  a  look  of  distress  on  his 
face.  He  recognized  me  and  was  afraid  I  would  tell  who 
he  was.  He  had  given  a  ficticious  name — as  had  also  the 
others. 

But  before  Sunday  came  I  began  to  think :  "What  if  I 
should  make  a  mistake  and  could  think  of  nothing  to  say 
when  I  come  before  all  those  hundreds  of  prisoners?"  And 
then  there  were  the  officers  in  their  suits  of  blue  with  brass 


242  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

buttons!    It  all  seemed  too  much  for  me,  and,  like  Jonah, 
I  took  ship  and  ran  away. 

That  night  I  started  by  steamer  for  Mobile,  Alabama — 
but  God  knew  I  did  not  mean  to  disobey  and  He  let  me 
work  among  the  stockades  in  the  south  until  I  got  boldness 
to  enter  other  prisons.  After  a  year  or  more  I  returned 
to  Fort  Madison  and  was  granted  the  privilege  offered  me 
before  and  from  that  time  to  this  I  have  always  been  made 
welcome  there  and  have  had  many  blessed  seasons  within 
these  walls.  There  is  no  place  where  I  have  been  more 
kindly  received  by  both  officers  and  prisoners  than  at  Fort 
Madison.  Chaplain  Gunn  and  wife  were  always  true  and 
loyal  friends.  'Tis  now  several  years  since  he  crossed  over 
to  the  better  shore.  I  shall  ever  remember  with  deep  grati- 
tude the  kindness  of  himself  and  family.  Chaplain  Jessup 
and  wife,  and  Warden  Jones  and  wife,  as  well  as  other 
officials,  have  been  especially  kind  and  courteous.  To  the 
prisoners  at  Fort  Madison,  also,  I  must  give  the  credit  of 
contributing  freely  from  their  small  savings  to  my  necessi- 
ties. While  I  would  gladly  mention  all  who  have  especially 
befriended  me  I  feel  that  this  tribute  is  due  to  the  officers 
and  men  of  Fort  Madison.  That  it  is  deserved  may  be 
easily  seen  by  the  following  communications  and  selections 
from  letters  which  I  find  among  my  papers: 

Warden's  Office,  Iowa  Penitentiary, 
Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  August  3,  1889. 

The  bearer,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton,  a  devoted  Christian  woman, 
has  for  years  been  visiting  the  prisons  and  jails  of  this  country 
seeking  to  do  good  to  their  inmates.  I  think  she  should  be  kindly 
received  and  encouraged  by  prison  authorities.  I  do  not  think  any 
one  has  ever  spoken  to  the  convicts  in  this  prison  with  better  effect 
and  I  am  sure  that  no  one  who  has  ever  addressed  them  will  be  longer 
or  more  kindly  remembered  by  them  than  Mrs.  Wheaton.  I  heartily 


OP.    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  243 

commend  her  and  her  good  work  to  those  engaged  in  prison  manage- 
ment and  to  good  people  everywhere  as  most  deserving  of  their  aid 
and  encouragement.  It  affords  me  all  the  more  pleasure  to  give 
Mrs.  Wheaton  this  testimonial  because  it  was  unsolicited  and  because 
of  the  unobtrusive  way  in  which  she  goes  about  doing  good. 

G.  W.  GROSLEY,  Warden. 


Ft.  Madison,  Iowa,  Oct.  5,  1893. 
Rev.  J.   M.  Croker,  Chaplain  State   Prison,   Anamosa,   la. 

My  Dear  Brother :  This  will  introduce  to  you  our  dear  sister,  Mrs. 
Wheaton,  the  prison  missionary,  who  would  like  to  address  the 
prisoners.  Any  favors  shown  her  will  be  duly  appreciated. 

Yours  truly,  W.  C.  GUNN,  Chaplain. 

Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  June  4,  1897. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton,  Tabor,  Iowa. 

My  Dear  Mother:  I  will  first  ask  your  pardon  for  not  answering 
your  letter  sooner.  But  I  am  always  so  busy  the  last  days  of  the 
month,  also  the  first  days,  as  I  have  all  the  time  of  the  contract 
men  to  make  up  to  send  to  the  contractors,  also  have  my  monthly 
report  to  the  governor,  and  as  we  give  the  boys  a  holiday  Monday 
1  ImnK  you  w'U  readily  see  I  have  had  my  hands  full. 

I  sometimes  think  it  is  more  than  I  can  stand.  I  want  to  do  rigbt 
b/  the  men  but  it  is  so  hard  at  times  to  tell  just  what  is  right.  1 
sincerely  thank  you  for  your  kind  interest  in  me.  And  may  our  great 
and  good  God  always  be  with  you  is  the  wish  of  your  true  friend. 

J.  R.  JONES,  Deputy  Warden. 


Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  Sept.  6,  1899. 

Mrs.  Wheaton :  Enclosed  please  find  draft  for ,  the  poor  boys ' 

free-will  offering  in  appreciation  of  your  kindness  in  visiting  them. 
You  are  thought  more  of  by  them  than  any  one  else  living — even 
their  relatives.  Please  sign  the  enclosed  receipt,  acd  send  it  back 
to  me,  that  I  may  have  something  to  show  what  became  of  the 
money.  Thanking  you  for  your  visit.  Yours  truly, 

W.  C.  GUNN,  Chaplain. 


244  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  Feb.  13,  1901. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton,  Tabor,  la. 

My  Dear  Sister:    Enclosed  find  draft   for  from  prisoners — 

entirely  a  free  will  offering,  given  without  other  solicitation  than  what 
you  heard  me  say  when  you  were  here.  Please  excuse  delay  in 
forwarding,  partly  due  to  uncertainty  as  to  your  whereabouts.  Per- 
haps you  will  write  me  a  short  message  for  the  men,  who  will  be 
glad  to  hear  from  you.  With  best  Wishes  and  prayers  for  your  wel- 
fare and  success  in  your  work,  I  am,  Very  sincerely  yours, 

A.  H.  JESSUP,  Chaplain. 


My  acquaintance  with  Mrs.  Wheaton  began  four  years  ago,  at 
the  first  Sunday  service  I  held  as  chaplain  of  this  prison.  Stand- 
ing by  my  office  window  before  the  men  had  come  into  the  chapel, 
I  saw  a  motherly-appearing  lady  enter  the  prison,  escorted  by 
the  assistant  deputy.  A  few  moments  later  we  met  on  the  chapel 
platform,  and  I  was  introduced  to  ' '  Mother  Wheaton, ' '  the  woman 
who  for  many  years  had,  in  prisons  and  jails,  all  over  the  country, 
sought  to  quicken  in  the  prisoners'  bosom  a  new  life,  and  lead 
to  the  Savior  those  who  all  their  lives  have  been  rejecting  Him. 
It  was  my  first  service  with  the  men,  as  I  have  said,  and  I  felt 
constrained  to  preach  as  I  had  come  prepared  to  do,  although  on 
subsequent  visits  I  have  gladly  granted  all  the  time  to  Mother 
Wheaton.  After  I  had  preached,  Mrs.  Wheaton  talked,  and  sang, 
and  prayed,  and  many  of  the  men  were  visibly  affected,  some  to 
tears,  by  her  earnest  pleading.  Later  she  went  to  my  office  and 
met  a  boy  who  was  soon  going  out,  and  prayed  and  talked  with 
him  in  a  manner  that  must  have  made  him  determine  to  strive  for 
a  better  manhood.  Our  prison  has  received  several  visits  from 
Mother  Wheaton  since  then,  and  always,  I  believe,  with  lasting 
good  to  the  men,  over  many  of  whom  she  has  exerted  an  influence 
for  good.  Earnest,  apt  and  ready  in  speech,  always  seeming  to 
live  close  to  God,  and  to  hold  instant  communion  with  Him,  and 
consecrated  soul  and  body,  time  and  means,  to  her  work — these 
perhaps  account  for  her  useful  service.  That  she  has  a  ready 
sense  of  humor,  too,  is  perhaps  one  reason  the  "boys"  listen  to 
her  so  well.  I  recall  one  incident.  She  had  come  down  from 
Burlington,  where  she  was  obliged  to  secure  a  pass  on  the  rail- 


OR   A   LABOR   OF   LOVE  245 

road.  The  proper  officer  not  being  at  hand,  she  went  from  one  to 
another,  until  at  last  one  was  found  with  authority  to  issue  a  pass, 
but  who  did  not  know  her  or  her  mission.  "On  what  ground 
do  you  want  a  pass?"  said  the  railroad  man.  "I  am  working  for 
God,  and  He  owns  the  railroads,"  was  the  unexpected  reply. 
"But,  madam,  where  are  you  going?"  gasped  the  official.  Quick 
as  a  flash  came  the  answer,  "To  heaven!"  But  by  this  time  the 
railroad  man  had  recovered  from  his  surprise,  and  seemed  equal 
to  the  emergency,  and  proved  himself  to  be  a  gentleman  as  well, 
for  he  said  quietly:  "If  that  is  your  destination,  madam,  I  am 
unable  to  accommodate  you,  for  I  regret  to  say  the  place  is  not  on 
our  line;  but  if  you  want  a  pass  to  any  place  on  our  road  you  can 
have  it."  In  relating  the  incident  in  the  prison  chapel  Mother 
Wheaton  added  that  she  secured  her  pass  to  Fort  Mjadison,  and 
that  when  she  reached  here  she  thought  she  was  next  to  heaven, 
for  here  she  had  first  attempted  her  work  for  souls,  in  State's 
Prisons,  and  here  she  believed  many  precious  trophies  for  the 
Master  had  been  given  her. 

I  noticed  on  her  last  visit  that  while  she  seemed  in  usual  health, 
her  hair  was  whiter,  betokening  the  gathering  years.  I  could 
wish  that  now  she  who  for  so  many  years  has  not  known  the 
blessing  of  home,  might  find  a  place  in  which  to  spend  in  rest  and 
communion  with  God,  and  helpful  but  gentle  ministrations,  the 
balance  of  her  life,  until  He  whom  she  has  followed  in  her  efforts 
to  do  good,  may  say:  "Come  up  higher,  thou  blessed  of  my 
Father.  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto  the  least  of  these  my  brethren 
ye  did  it  unto  me." 

A.  H.  JESSUP, 
Chaplain  Iowa  State  Penitentiary. 

Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  April  18,  1904. 

WORK  IN   SANTA   FE,    NEW    MEXICO. 

Several  interesting  experiences  have  occurred  in  connec- 
tion with  my  visits  to  the  prison  at  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico. 
At  one  time  I  found  there  a  good  old  Christian  man,  "a 
trusty,"  who  had  charge  of  the  Superintendent's  horses, 
driving  the  family  to  town,  etc.,  and  had  much  liberty  given 


246  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

him.  One  day  he  sat  in  front  of  me,  driving  to  town,  and 
I  said  to  him,  "I  am  going  to  pray  to  God  to  remove  the 
'stripes'  from  you."  He  said,  "Pray  for  my  release — r 
know  God  hears  prayer/'  I  did  so,  as  did  also  my  good 
co-workers,  returned  missionaries  home  from  Africa 
on  a  visit.  In  three  or  four  days  the  warden  gave  him 
citizens'  clothes;  and  soon  after  the  governor  gave  him  his 
pardon. 

We  were  led  to  pray  for  a  pardon  for  brother  T.  of  the 
same  prison,  and  in  three  months  he  was  a  free  man.  At 
the  time  I  had  a  sister  with  me  from  Japan.  On  my  return 
from  the  Pacific  coast  we  again  held  services  in  the  prison 
at  Santa  Fe,  and  during  the  meeting  I  said,  "What  do  you 
want  me  to  sing,  boys?"  One  said,  "Sing,  'Some  Mother's 
Boy.'  "  I  did  so,  and  in  the  morning,  before  I  left  the 
prison,  the  officer  said  to  me,  "Here  is  two  dollars  a  man 
sent  in  from  the  prison  for  you."  Upon  inquiring  the 
name  of  the  prisoner  I  found  it  was  J.  L.  As  they  told 
me  he  was  a  good  man,  a  Christian,  and  a  good  prisoner, 
I  took  his  case  also  to  the  Lord  in  prayer.  Within  three 
weeks  he  was  given  a  pardon  by  the  governor.  The  three 
men  mentioned  were  all  Christians. 

In  none  of  these  cases  did  I  go  to  the  governor,  but  just 
left  all  in  God's  hands,  and  prayed  if  God  was  pleased  to 
set  these  men  free,  that  He  would  impress  the  governor  to 
give  them  their  release.  These  cases  occurred  at  different 
times.  I  am  sure  that  the  hope  of  pardon  has  in  many  cases 
saved  the  lives  of  prisoners,  and  also  saved  them  from  in- 
sanity. 

I  give  below  a  letter  received  from  Brother  T.,  also 
quote  from  a  sketch  of  his  life,  as  published  by  McAuley 
Water  Street  Mission,  N.  Y.,  and  sent  me  by  himself;  also 


Ofc   A   LABOR  OF   LOVE  247 

letters  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Christian  Endeavor  Soci- 
ety of  the  Santa  Fe  Prison,  and  very  kind  letters  from  Gov- 
ernor Thornton,  Superintendent  H.  O.  Bursom,  and  Broth- 
er S.  H.  Hadley,  of  Water  Street  Mission. 

May  26,  1903. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

I  suppose  you  will  be  surprised  to  hear  irom  me.  The  last  time 
I  saw  you  was  in  the  Santa  Fe  Territorial  Prison.  You  had  a 
meeting  in  the  cell  house.  I  was  the  trusty  who  went  with  you 
to  the  depot.  If  you  remember,  you  prayed  for  the  removal  of 
the  number  from  the  back  of  No.  917  and  that  he  would  be  freed; 
you  also  told  me  you  would  pray  that  I  would  get  out  of  prison. 
Your  prayers  have  been  answered.  I  was  pardoned  last  Christmas, 
and  am  here  working  among  the  criminal  classes  as  a  missionary. 
You  remember  of  my  having  been  converted  before  your  visit  to 
the  prison.  It  is  a  great  blessing  to  me  to  spend  the  balance  of 
my  life  thus,  who  had  been  sent  to  prison  for  forty  years,  under 
conviction  and  sentence  for  a  crime  of  which  I  was  perfectly 
innocent,  although  I  was  a  great  sinner  in  other  respects. 
Yours  in  the  grand  work, 

E.  U.  T. 

SENTENCED  TO  FORTY  YEARS  IN  PRISON. 

On  the  night  of  July  6,  18 — ,  I  was  playing  the  banjo  in  a  noto- 
rious gambling  house  in  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico.  It  had  been 
my  business  for  years  and  I  liked  the  surroundings;  they  suited  me 
exactly;  in  fact,  I  have  traveled  from  my  home  in  the  East,  from 
city  to  city,  through  all  the  slumdum  of  the  western  cities  play- 
ing my  banjo;  I  thoroughly  enjoyed  it  and  the  company  which  it 
brought  me.  *  *  *  I  was  arrested  on  suspicion  and  locked  in 
jail.  I  had  no  money,  no  friends  and  no  character,  and  I  began 
to  realize  for  the  first  time  what  my  life  was  bringing  me.  I 
was  finally  brought  to  trial  and  convicted  on  circumstantial  evi- 
dence, and  sentenced  to  forty  years  in  prison  for  a  crime  that  I 
knew  nothing  more  about  than  the  judge  who  sat  upon  the  bench. 

Dear  reader,  can  you  enter  into  this  story  with  me;  can  you 
form  an  idea  of  my  despair  as  I  received  practically  a  life  sen- 


248  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

tence  for  something  which  I  did  not  do?  My  heart  was  hard  and 
bitter  against  myself  and  everybody  else  as  I  was  taken  to  the 
Territorial  penitentiary  at  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico.  I  was  in  the 
prime  of  life,  only  28  years  old,  but,  oh,  what  steps  I  had  already 
taken  in  the  downward  path  that  leadeth  unto  death.  Every  evil 
habit  had  fastened  itself  upon  me,  and  after  I  had  taken  my  place 
in  the  prison  I  almost  went  wild  with  terror  and  despair  when  I 
realized  what  was  before  me.  I  was  soon  set  to  work  with  pick 
and  shovel  digging  out  trenches  on  the  grounds,  and  I  tried  to  do 
the  work  the  best  I  could  and  be  a  good  prisoner.  I  presume  I 
was,  for  a  little  time  afterward  I  was  placed  in  the  library,  and 
had  charge  of  the  greenhouse  as  well. 

One  Sunday  afternoon  in  the  chapel  the  speaker  took  for  his 
text,  St.  John,  3,  14th  and  15th  verses:  "As  Moses  lifted  up  the 
serpent  in  the  wilderness,  even  so  must  the  Son  of  Man  be  lifted 

«p;" 

"That  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish,  but  have 
everlasting  life. ' ' 

The  speaker  dwelt  at  length  on  this  actual  occurrence  and  also 
how  God  commanded  Moses  to  erect  a  pole  with  the  brass  serpent, 
and  although  there  were  there  people  dying  by  the  thousands,  those 
that  looked  on  that  brazen  serpent  were  healed.  He  brought  the  ap- 
plication home  to  us  prisoners — how  the  serpent  of  sin  had  stung  us 
so  deeply  and  our  only  remedy  was  to  look  to  Jesus  Christ,  who 
was  lifted  up  on  the  cross,  and  my  hard  heart  began  to  melt  and  a 
desire  came  to  me  to  be  healed  of  this  terrible  serpent's  bite. 
The  speaker  instructed  us  when  we  got  back  to  our  cells  to  read 
this  whole  chapter,  and  when  I  got  back  to  my  cell  I  took  up  the 
book  and  read,  and  I  prayed  to  God  to  open  my  heart  so  that  I 
could  understand  what  He  wanted  of  me,  and  as  I  read  the  blessed 
Holy  Spirit  came  to  my  poor  soul  and  showed  me  what  a  sinful 
man  I  was,  and  I  then  and  there  became  a  child  of  God.  Great 
peace  came  to  my  soul,  which  at  first  I  could  scarcely  understand, 
but  although  still  a  prisoner  and  wearing  the  stripes,  I  was  a 
free  man  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  I  rejoiced  in  my  new  found  life. 
After  this,  prison  life  was  not  so  dreary  as  it  was  before. 

Among  the  many  different  workers  who  came  to  the  prison  was 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  E.  Wood,  of  Santa  Fe;  he  is  Mail  Agent  on  the 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  249 

road.  He  is  a  blessed  man,  and  one  who  loves  the  prisoners.  An- 
other person  I  would  like  to  mention  is  the  person  known  as 
"Mother  Wheaton. "  I  think  I  should  speak  of  a  little  circum- 
stance that  happened  to  one  prisoner  who  went  by  the  number 
917,  and  who  wore  this  number  in  great  big  cloth  figures  on  his 
back;  he  drove  " Mother  Wheaton"  to  town,  as  he  was  a 
"trusty,"  and  she  said  that  she  was  going  to  pray  that  the  Lord 
would  take  that  number  off  his  back,  and  in  a  few  days  after  that 
the  Warden  came  in  with  a  new  suit  of  clothes  for  him  without 
the  stripes  or  number — citizen's  clothes.  She  once  said  to  me: 
"1  am  going  to  pray  to  the  Lord  to  get  you  out  of  here,"  remind- 
ing me  of  the  praj^er  she  made  for  No.  917.  "Mother  Wheaton" 
prayed  for  my  release.  On  Christmas  day,  1902,  three  months 
after  the  above  conversation  took  place,  I  was  in  the  chapel  of  the 
prison  in  the  entertainment  that  was  going  on.  Governor  Otero 
sat  in  the  balcony. 

The  custom  is  that  someone  shall  receive  a  pardon  on  Christmas 
day,  and  no  cne  has  any  intimation  who  it  is  excepting  the 
Governor.  I  had  not  the  slightest  idea  that  I  would  be  the  lucky 
man,  and  after  the  Assistant  Superintendent  asked  that  I  play  a 
certain  composition  of  my  own,  he  requested  me  to  step  out  and  he 
read  the  pardon;  to  my  surprise  my  name  was  in  the  pardon,  and, 
oh,  the  joy  that  came  to  me  when  I  began  to  realize  that  I  was  a 
free  man,  but,  dear  reader,  this  pardon,  great  as  it  was,  did  not 
compare  with  the  joy  that  came  in  my  soul  as  I  realized  that  I 
had  received  the  pardon  from  my  Eedeemer,  and  that  all  my  sins 
were  forgiven  and  all  my  past  crimes  blotted  out. 

While  in  the  prison  I  read  an  account  in  a  paper  of  the  experi- 
ence of  S.  H.  Hadley,  who  was  then  in  New  York  connected  with 
the  Jerry  McAuley  Mission,  and  I  was  desirous  of  going  to  New 
Fork  to  meet  this  man.  I  did  so,  and  before  I  had  been  ten 
minutes  in  his  office  he  told  me  what  already  was  filling  my  soul, 
that  I  should  be  a  worker  for  Christ  and  try  to  save  those  who 
had  fallen,  and  the  down-trodden.  I  stepped  out  on  the  Lord's 
promises  with  but  very  little  knowledge,  except  the  knowledge  of 
sins  forgiven,  and  a  big  hope  in  my  soul  of  eternal  life,  and  a  love 
that  I  cannot  express,  without  one  dollar  in  my  pocket,  but  with 
the  simple  faith  in  Jesus.  I  am  working  every  night  and  day  at 


25O  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

every  door  that  is  open,  and  every  one  that  I  can  open,  where  I 
can  'tell  the  wonderful  story  of  Jesus'  love  to  sinners.  Dear 
reader,  pray  for  me  that  God  may  wonderfully  use  me. 

"The  dying  thief   rejoiced  to  see 

The  Fountain  in  his  day, 
And   there    I    do,    though   vile   as   he, 

Wash  all  my  sins  away." 

New  York, 18,  1904. 

Dear  Mother: 

It  gives  me  much  pleasure  when  I  think  of  your  going  from 
prison  to  prison  telling  the  poor  boys  and  girls  behind  the  bars 
of  Jesus.  It  always  gave  me  great  joy  when  I  heard  that  our  dear 

mother  was  going  to  speak  to  her  boys  at  Prison;  because 

I  knew  you  were  our  friend.  I  wish  to  again  thank  you  for  the 
day  that  you  prayed  that  God  would  open  the  prison  doors  for 
me.  God  answered  your  prayer,  and  after  serving  about  seven 
years  of  a  forty  years'  sentence  the  prison  doors  were  opened  for 
me,  and  God  sent  me  to  New  York  to  labor  for  souls.  He  sent 
me  to  Mr.  S.  H.  Hadley,  the  present  superintendent  of  the  old 
McAuley  Mission,  and  he  has  been  indeed  a  father  to  me. 

I  am  so  thankful  that  God  sent  me  to  such  a  good  man — one 
who  loves  the  lost  sinner;  and  one  who  is  willing  to  do  anything 
in  his  power  to  help  the  helpless.  May  God's  richest  blessings  be 
your  portion  is  the  prayer  of  your  son  in  the  Gospel. 

E.  U.  T. 


McAuley  Water  btreet  Mission, 
New  York,  Sept.  11,  1903. 

"Mother  Wheaton,"  as  the  boys  behind  the  prison-bars,  yes, 
and  those  who  have  by  her  prayers  gone  out  from  behind  the 
prison-bars,  affectionately  call  her,  is  one  of  the  unique,  mission- 
ary characters  in  this  country,  ihe  travels  all  over  this  land  with 
but  one  object  in  view  and  that  is  to  tell  sinners  of  the  powerful, 
deathless  love  of  Jesus  and  how  no  one  can  be  too  bad  for  Him 
to  save.  She  brings  sunshine  to  many  sorrowing  hearts  and  hope 
to  thousands  who  never  knew  what  hope  was  until  they  met  her. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  251 

An  ex-convict,  who  is  one  of  my  helpers  now,  was  prayed  out  of 
practically  a  life  sentence  by  Mother  Wheaton. 

I  have  seen  her  curled  up  in  some  seat  in  a  day  coach  at  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning  on  a  Southern  railroad  because  she  had  not 
money  enough  to  take  a  " sleeper"  and  had  to  travel  all  night  or 
lose  an  appointment  to  speak  at  some  stockade  or  prison. 

God  bless  her  book  and  speed  it  on.  S.  H.  HADLEY. 

Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  May  26,  1903. 
Elizabeth  Wheaton,    Prison  Evangelist, 
Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

Dear  Friend  in  Christ :  Yours  of  23d  received,  and  am  happy  to  say 
that  Mr.  Trout  (No.  99)  has  been  pardone'd,  and  is  now  engaged 
in  bringing  souls  to  Christ  down  on  Water  street  in  the  McAuley 
Mission,  New  York  City,  using  his  musical  talents  to  further  the 
cause  in  which  he  is  now  devoting  the  rest  of  his  life.  I  am  sure 
he  would  be  more  than  pleased  to  hear  from  you.  All  the  boys  are 
as  well  as  could  be  expected,  and  a  visit  from  you  would  be  much 
appreciated. 

The  C.  E.  S.  has  increased  by  seventy,  making  a  total  of  one  hun- 
dred and  five.  God  bless  you  in  all  your  efforts  in  the  cause  of 
Christ  is  the  wish  of  all.  Respectfully, 

P.  M.,  sec.  Prison  C.  E.  S. 


Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  July  28,  1903. 

Dear  Mother:  .  .  .  Your  letter  to  Mr.  J.  W.  L.  came  to  hand  in 
due  time.  •  I  wrote  you  at  Tabor,  Iowa,  in  regard  to  the  God-given 
gift,  sweet  liberty,  which  came  to  him  on  the  twelfth  of  July. 
God  has  answered  your  prayer  sooner  than  he  had  expected.  He  left 
the  prison  gates  with  full  trust  and  confidence  in  the  mercies  of  the 

omnipotent  power  of  God.  He  is  now  in  W with  his  brother.   May 

God 's  benign  countenance  look  down  upon  you  and  increase  the  mani- 
fold blessing  and  grace  that  He  has  so  richly  endowed  you  with.  I 
will  distribute  the  tracts  and  learn  the  song.  All  your  boys  send  their 
respects  and  wish  to  be  remembered  in  your  prayers. 

Yours  in  Christ  Jesus, 

P.  M.,  Sec.  C.  E.  8. 


252  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

New  Mexico  Penitentiary,  Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  Sept.  19,  1903. 
Dear    Mother   Wheaton: 

I  was  pleased  to  hear  from  you,  and  was  exceedingly  happy  to  know 
that  you  are  going  to  put  your  experiences  and  noble  work  of  the  past 
amongst  the  unfortunates  in  prison  into  book  form.  Certainly,  dear 
mother,  no  one  knows  the  heartaches  and  sorrows  of  this  class  better 
than  yourself.  God  has  blest  you  in  preparing  you  for  this  work 
and  sending  you  from  prison  to  prison  to  gather  in  the  wavering 
souls  from  eternal  destruction. 

God  grant  you  many  years  more  of  service  in  the  field  where  souls 
are  perishing  and  when  your  earthly  career  shall  have  closed,  the 
shining  crown  of  eternal  bliss  in  the  presence  of  the  King  of  Heaven 
and  Earth,  will  forever  be  your  beacon  light  to  make  you  think  of  the 
ones  below.  Many,  yea  many  unfortunates  not  yet  born  wrill  read  from 
these  same  prison  cells  of  the  work  of  ' '  Mother  Wheaton ' J  in  the 
prisons  of  our  country.  My  every  breath  and  prayerful  utterance  is 
1 '  God  be  with  you  till  we  meet  again. ' ' 

As  ever,  one  of  your  boys  in  Christ  Jesus, 

PHILIP   M.,   Sec.   C.   E.   S. 


TEEK1TOEY   OF   NEW   MEXICO. 
Office  of  the  Executive,  Santa  Fe,  N.  M.,  Oct.,  1895. 
Judge  E.  V.  Long,  Las  Vegas. 

Dear  Sir:  This  will  introduce  to  you  Mrs.  Wheaton,  traveling  in 
the  interests  of  the  prisons  and  asylums.  She  may  want  to  hold  a 
service  at  the  asylum.  If  so  please  see  that  the  opportunity  is  af- 
forded her.  Yours  respectfully, 

W.  T.  THORNTON,  Governor. 


New  Mexico  Penitentiary,  Sante  Fe,  N.  M.,  Sept.  19,  1903. 
Mrs.  E.  K.  Wheaton  has  been  paying  our  institution  visits  on  vari- 
ous occasions  for  some  years  past,  and  during  these  visits  has  done 
very  much  valuable  work  towards  furthering  the  discipline  of  the 
institution.  Her  words  of  comfort  and  wholesome  advice  together 
with  her  teachings  of  Christianity  has  cheered  many  a  poor,  unfor- 
tunate soul  up  to  believing  and  hoping  for  a  better  future ;  to  realize 
that  justice  demands  that  some  punishment  be  meted  out  to  wrong 
doers  and  violators  of  the  laws  of  the  land;  that  such  punishment 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVET  253 

is  not  eternal :  that  they  can  receive  consolation  and  comfort  their 
conscience  even  inside  of  the  prison  walls  by  resolving  to  be  better 
men,  by  a  closer  observance  of  the  moral  laws  as  dictated  by  their 
conscience,  a  faithful  compliance  of  their  duties  as  men  or  women, 
and  a  strict  obedience  to  their  overseers  acting  under  the  law  and, 
above  all,  an  abiding  faith  in  the  Almighty  God. 

Mrs.  Wheaton  has  taught  them  to  understand  that  they  must  not 
only  resolve  but  must  demonstrate  by  their  actions  in  every  day 
life  a  sincerity  of  purpose. 

The  management  feels  very  grateful  indeed  for  the  splendid  work 
so  generously  devoted  in  the  interest  of  humanity,  which  I  consider 
also  a  most  valuable  assistance  to  the  prison  management  in  main- 
taining discipline  and  turning  out  discharged  prisoners  as  better  men 
and  women,  better  equipped  morally,  physically  and  spiritually 
to  meet  and  solve  the  problem  of  living  an  honest  and  upright  life, 
earn  and  care  for  those  who  may  be  dependent  upon  them. 

H.  0.  BURSOM,  Superintendent, 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
Gone  Home  from  the  Scaffold. 

"Let  the  sighing  of  the  prisoner  come  before  thee;  according  to 
the  greatness  of  thy  power,  preserve  thou  those  that  are  appointed  to 
die."— Psalms  79:11. 

' '  Whosoever  hateth  his  brother  is  a  murderer. ' ' 

One  of  the  most  touching  things,  and  to  me  the  most  im- 
portant of  all  this  God-appointed  work,  has  been  my  spe- 
cial mission  to  those  who  are  doomed  to  execution. 

If  there  ever  is  a  time  in  our  lives  when  we  need  a 
friend,  it  is  when  we  are  sick,  in  trouble,  or  about  to  die. 
The  last  words  of  our  loved  ones  are  very  dear  to  us  all. 
Nearly  every  home  has  at  some  time  had  a  call  from  the 
death  angel.  And  looking  through  the  bureau  drawer,  you 
might  see  the  little  garments,  shoes  and  playthings  that 
used  to  be  our  darlings'  before  they  went  away.  Turn  the 
leaves  of  the  old  Family  Bible  and  you  will  see  hidden  be- 
tween its  pages  a  lock  of  hair,  perhaps  father's  or  moth- 
er's. We  look  up  to  Heaven  through  our  blinding  tears, 
and  cry  out  between  our  sobs :  "Oh,  God,  help  me  to  say 
Thy  will  be  done.'" 

In  looking  over  my  packages  of  old  letters  from  the  de- 
parted ones  who  have  paid  the  penalty  of  a  violated  law, 
dying  either  in  the  electric  chair  or  on  the  scaffold,  I  find 
them  coming  to  pieces,  some  so  badly  worn  I  can  scarcely 
read  them.  And  I  know  the  hands  that  penned  them  are 
now  returning  back  to  dust. 

In  order  to  show  how  God  saves  when  they  are  truly 
penitent,  even  men  of  this  class,  who  are  counted  the  worst 
of  criminals,  I  will  give  an  account  of  a  few  Instances 


Oft   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  255 

which  have  come  under  my  own  observation,  and  extracts 
from  some  of  the  letters  I  have  received — written  before 
execution.  And  let  us  remember  that  our  Savior  declared 
that  every  sin  shall  be  forgiven  to  men,  except  the  sin 
against  the  Holy  Ghost. 

INDIFFERENT    BUT   FINALLY    CONVERTED. 

The  first  one  who  was  converted  under  my  ministry,  be- 
fore going  to  the  scaffold,  was  executed  in  August,  1885, 
in  the  state  of  Kentucky.  On  going  to  jail  I  found  this 
young  man  there  with  the  sentence  of  death  upon  him.  The 
burden  of  his  lost  condition  came  upon  my  soul  in  great 
power.  I  felt  I  should  die  unless  he  was  saved,  and  cried 
mightily  to  God  for  his  conviction  and  conversion.  I  held 
several  meetings  there  and  was  entertained  a  part  of  the 
time  by  the  sheriff's  wife,  who  was  a  Christian  lady.  She, 
too,  was  very  anxious  for  this  young  man's  salvation.  As 
I  took  the  train  to  leave  the  place,  his  mother  accompanied 
me  to  the  depot — crying  and  pleading,  "Oh,  pray  for  my 
poor  boy.  It  will  surely  kill  me."  The  bitter  wail  of  that 
mother's  heart  seems  to  Still  ring  in  my  ears.  Letters  from 
the  sheriff's  wife  came  often,  telling  me  of  the  boy's  still 
seeming  indifferent.  But  she  said  that  he  often  inquired 
about  me  and  wanted  to  see  me. 

I  prayed  for  this  soul  almost  incessantly  for  forty-five 
days,  b^mg  scarcely  able  to  sleep  at  night;  and  he  was 
finally  converted.  After  his  conversion  I  received  from 
him  tho  following  letters : 

— ,  KY.,  August  5,  1885. 
My  Dear  Friend: 

I  received  your  card  this  morning  and  was  very  glad  to  hear  from 
you  indeed.  Mrs.  Wheaton,  I  feel  my  Savior  in  my  heart.  I  know 
that  He  will  save  my  soul.  I  am  praying  to  my  God  every  hour  in 


256  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

the  day.  I  am  praying  for  God  to  place  something  in  my  heart  to 
tell  the  people  when  I  go  to  the  scaffold.  I  want  to  tell  them  what 
my  Savior  has  placed  in  my  heart — the  man  that  suffered  and  died 
that  I  should  have  everlasting  life.  I  wish  you  could  be  with  me 
once  more  on  earth  to  sing  and  pray  with  me,  but  if  not,  I  will  meet 
you  on  that  other  shore.  My  friend  Charley  is  praying  and  singing 
with  me  every  day  and  night  and  says  he  will  meet  us  in  the  king- 
dom. They  are  all  well  here  but  Mrs.  N.  (the  sheriff's  wife).  She 
has  been  sick,  but  is  better  now.  I  would  like  to  be  with  yow  once 
more  before  I  die,  and  if  not,  look  out  for  me  when  you  reach  that 
happy  land.  Good-by,  good-by.  Eemember  me  in  your  prayers.  I 
have  yet  nine  days  to  live.  From  your  friend, 

H F . 


,  XY.,  August  12,  1885. 

My  Dear  Friend: 

1  received  your  card  tonight  at  my  cell  door.  I  seem  to  see  you 
now  at  the  door  of  my  cell,  praying  for  me.  The  sheriff  came  in 
this  morning  and  put  shackles  on  me.  But  I  thank  God  that  after 
two  days  more  I  will  be  at  rest.  I  have  been  praying  to  my  Father 
to  teach  me  something  to  tell  the  world  at  my  last  hour.  I  would 
like  to  tell  everybody  what  my  dear  Savior  has  done  for  me.  He  has 
given  me  what  1  asked  Him  for  and  He  will  go  with  me  to  the  scaf- 
fold. .  I  will  see  you  again,  "In  the  fair  and  happy  land,  just  across 
on  the  evergreen  shore. ' '  I  am  ready  to  go  home  to  rest.  I  have 
suffered  enough  in  this  world,  so  I  will  bid  the  world  good-by.  I 
will  have  to  bid  you  good-by  for  the  present.  I  will  see  you  again. 
I  will  watch  for  you.  Excuse  me  for  not  answering  you  sooner.  I 
am  in  my  cell  and  it  is  very  dark  for  me  to  write,  but  I  do  my  best. 
I  fast  and  pray  most  all  the  time.  Good-by  once  more  for  a  while. 
From  your  true  friend,  H.  F. 

Below  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  the  sheriff's 
wife  to  me  shortly  after  the  execution  took  place : 
Dear  Sister: 

I  fulfill  the  promise  I  made  to  poor  Henry  the  day  he  was  exe- 
cuted, to  write  you  a  letter  and  tell  you  all  about  him  after  he  wa*» 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  257 

gone  to  that  bright  glory  land.  It  would  have  done  you  good  to 
have  seen  him  the  last  three  days  he  lived.  He  was  as  happy  as  he 
could  be.  He  had  a  smile  on  his  countenance  all  the  time  and  never 
broke  down,  no  difference  who  of  his  friends  came  to  see  him.  He 
talked  to  his  mother  and  brothers  so  nice  and  gave  them  such  good 
advice.  He  told  his  mother  to  not  grieve  after  him,  but  to  rejoice, 
for  he  would  be  so  much  better  off  after  he  was  gone,  for  he  knew 
that  he  would  be  at  rest.  And  if  they  would  live  and  do  right  they 
could  come  to  him.  The  people  that  were  here  that  day  (and  there 
were  between  four  and  five  thousand)  were  surprised  to  see  the 
beautiful  countenance  he  left  the  prison  with.  He  helped  to  sing  that 
beautiful  hymn, 

"And  must  I  be  to  judgment  brought, 

And  answer  in  that  day 
For  every  vain  and  idle  thought 

And  every  word  I  say? 

with  the  chorus, 

"We  are- passing  away," 

and  he  was  heard  distinctly  by  all.  He  clapped  his  hands  while  he  was 
singing;  then  he  stepped  on  to  the  trap  and  was  soon  gone.  He  had 
a  prayer  on  his  lips  when  the  black  cap  was  drawn  over  his  face, 
and  said,  "Good  by"  to  all  his  friends,  and  repeated,  "Good-by. " 
He  told  me  to  tell  you  he  expected  to  meet  you  in  heaven.  His 
mother  and  brothers  send  their  kindest  regards  to  you.  May  God 
bless  you.  Your  sister  in  Christ, 

S.  N. 

MOTHER'S  PRAYERS. 

The  case  of  C —  was  one  of  most  intense  interest  to  the 
public  as  well  as  his  immediate  friends.  For  long  months 
I  wept  and  prayed  for  this  young  man.  He  was  hoping  for 
a  new  trial.  He  was  always  glad  to  see  me  and  to  have  me 
sing  for  him.  He  was  refined,  educated,  a  member  of  "one 
of  the  F.  F.  V.'s,"  as  they  say,  yet  doomed  to  die  on  the 


258  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

scaffold.    How  my  heart  longed  to  see  him  saved — for  Je- 
sus, too,  was  longing  for  his  salvation. 

I  was  called  to-  other  fields  of  labor  before  the  fatal  day 
and  was  not  sure  of  his  acceptance  with  God,  but  can  but 
hope  that  his  poor  mother's  prayers  and  mine  were  heard 
in  heaven  and  that  that  poor,  misguided  youth  whose  every 
wish  had  before  been  gratified  was  forgiven.  We  can  but 
cast  the  mantle  of  charity  over  the  case  and  leave  it  with 
Him  who  wills  not  that  any  should  perish  but  that  all  should 
turn  to  Him  and  live.  He  wrote  me  the  following: 

Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton,  Prison  Missionary: 

I  appreciate  very  highly  your  kindness  and  sympathy  and  more 
so  your  prayers.  I  trust  we  may  all  meet  in  a  better  land.  Return 
my  thanks  to  Mrs.  Gen  T .  Respectfully,  T.  J.  C. 

Aug.  24,  1885. 

CLAIMED  TO  BE  INNOCENT. 

The  following  letter  is  from  one  who  was  executed  in 
1887.  He  declared  to  the  very  last  that  he  was  innocent  of 
the  crime  for  which  he  was  convicted.  He  always  main- 
tained to  me  that  the  person  he  was  supposed  to  have  mur- 
dered committed  suicide  under  circumstances  which  threw 
suspicion  upon  him.  For  myself,  I  do  not  believe  in  capi- 
tal punishment  and  certainly  if  it  is  ever  justifiable  it  is  not 
in  any  case  that  leaves  a  possibility  of  doubt  regarding  the 
guilt  of  the  accused. 

In  spite  of  great  hindrances,  being  in  the  place,  I  was 
led  to  visit  the  jail.  After  having  sung  for  some  of  the 
other  prisoners  an  officer  came  to  me  asking  if  I  would  go 
down  below  to  visit  a  condemned  man  who  had  heard  me 
sing  and  requested  that  I  would  come  to  him.  Of  course  I 
went — though  the  opening  to  his  cell  was  so  small  that  I 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  259 

had  to  stoop  very  low  to  get  in.  If  I  remember  rightly  he 
claimed  to  be  converted  that  day.  I  was  obliged  to  leave 
the  city  soon  after,  but  heard  from  him  several  times  before 
his  execution. 

Petersburg,  Va.,  April,  1887. 

My  Dear  Friend :  I  received  your  postal  and  will  answer  it  at 
once.  I  was  very  glad  to  hear  from  you,  especially  as  you  remind" 
me  so  much  of  my  dear  old  mother — not  exactly  now,  but  as  she 
was  about  fifteen  years  ago.  *  *  * 

Mrs.  R.  sang  the  same  hymn  for  me  that  I  heard  you  sing  to 
those  in  the  room  above  me.  She  said  she  would,  if  she  had  the 
chance  before  she  left  the  city,  write  it  for  me  and  bring  it  to  me, 
but  as  she  has  not  been  here  yet  I  fear  she  has  left,  so  I  will  be  very 
glad  if  you  will  be  so  kind  as  to  write  it  for  me.  It  is  beautiful. 

I  was  very  sorry  you  left  so  soon.  I  would  have  been  so  glad  for 
you  to  have  been  in  town  longer  so  you  could  have  called  at  least 
once  more!  But  if  I  never  see  you  on  this  earth  it  is  comforting 
to  know  we  may  meet  in  heaven.  But,  O  God!  had  I  received  jus- 
tice, today  I  would  be  as  free  as  the  birds  of  the  field.  There  is  a 
blessed  hope  in  knowing  while  we  are  persecuted  by  men,  it  is  only 
the  body  they  can  persecute  on  this  earth,  the  soul  is  out  of  their 
reach.  And  before  the  flesh  is  cold  in  death  my  soul  will  be  soaring 
above  in  the  realms  of  bliss  to  be  forever  blessed!  O  forever!  For- 
evermore!  It  is  one  of  the  most  consoling  of  all  consolations  for 
me  to  know  that  it  is  only  the  condemnation  of  man  and  the  so- 
called  law  of  the  land  by  which  I  was  convicted — not  by — no,  not 
by — the  great  Judge  of  all  hearts  and  not  by  justice  at  all.  Only 
condemned  by  man — not  by  my  God  and  justice.  But  it  is  all  in 
God 's  hands  and  He  will  repay,  for  ' '  Vengeance  is  mine, ' '  saith  the 
Lord.  Vengeance  is  not  mine  nor  do  I  wish  to  revenge  any  one. 
*  *  *  * '  Revenge  is  sweet, ' '  is  an  old  adage,  but  not  to  me  to  get 
revenge  and  by  so  doing  lose  my  own  soul,  for  what  is  the  whole 
world  to  gain  and  lose  your  own  soul  I  I  am  charged  with  that 
of  which  I  am  not  guilty,  but  my  protestation  is  in  no  way  believed. 


2O*O  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

Neither  was  the  only  pure  one  who  ever  trod  the  soil  of  this  earth. 
He  was  caught  and  charged,  accused,  condemned — yes,  more  than 
that,  was  crucified.  Was  he  guilty?  No — emphatically  no.  But  his 
innocence  could  not  save  him.  Nor  did  mine  do  me  any  good  in 
my  trial  at  all.  But,  thank  God,  it  will  do  me  good  in  the  world 
to  come,  where  I  will  receive  justice  and  I  will  not  be  in  danger  of 
prejudice  as  lies  and  prejudice  are  the  cause  of  my  being  in  this 
lonely  cell  today.  *  *  * 

All  the  boys  in  the  room  over  me  request  me  to  be  remembered 
in  my  letter  to  you  kindly.  Many  thanks  to  you  for  those  tracts  you 
sent  me.  I  hope  to  be  remembered  in  your  daily  appeals  to  our 
Maker,  in  whose  care  I  prayerfully  submit  myself  and  you  to  his 
keeping  in  the  future.  God  grant  it  and  may  we  meet  in  heaven. 
Hoping  this  will  in  no  way  offend  you  and  that  it  may  be  an- 
swered soon  to  one  in  solitude — yet  not  alone  •  condemned — yet  not 
guilty.  Your  brother  in  Christ,  W.  R.  P. 

HARDENED   IN   CRIME. 

The  case  of  the  writer  of  the  following  communications 
(which  were  written  on  postal  cards)  was  one  of  note.  He 
was  supposed  to  be  so  hardened  in  crime  and  so  void  of 
feeling  that  there  was  no  hope  for  him — that  nothing  could 
reach  or  save  him.  But  I  believed  that  God  loved  him  just 
as  the  Word  teaches  us,  and  I  laid  hold  'on  the  promises 
of  the  Bible  for  his  soul's  salvation.  I  am  sure  that  God 
never  turns  a  penitent  soul  away  empty  who  comes  to  Him 
in  faith,  feeling  that  He  is  a  rewarder  of  those  who  dili- 
gently seek  Him.  "O  ye  of  little  faith,  wherefore  didst 
thou  doubt?" 

After  the  light  of  God  broke  in  upon  this  poor  man's 
soul  he  saw  that  he  was  a  wretched  sinner,  but  that  there 
was  pardon  and  peace  for  all  who  truly  repent  of  their  sins 
and  who  confess  and  forsake  them.  To  such  God  has 
given  the  promise  of  eternal  life  and  that  the  blood  of 


OR   A   LABOR  OF   LOVE  26 1 

Jesus  Christ  his  Son  shall  cleanse  their  hearts  from  all 
sin.  This  man  was  convinced  of  his  need  of  a  Savior  and 
deeply  convicted  of  sin  and  we  believe  was  made  ready  to 
meet  God.  He  seemed  very  deeply  thankful  to  me  for  my 
untiring  efforts  in  his  behalf  and  surprised  at  my  faith  and 
confidence  in  God  for  him,  and  through  these  He  was 
brought  by  the  power  of  the  Spirit  unto  repentance  toward 
God  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

June  18,  1887. 
My  Dear,  Kind  Friend: 

I  received  your  welcome  postal  and  it  makes  me  happy  to  read 
it.  I  am  now  ready  to  go  to  my  fate.  I  pray  every  night  and 
day  for  God  to  forgive  me.  I  put  my  whole  trust  in  Him.  Pray 
for  me  that  God  will  wash  my  sins  away  and  receive  me  in  heaven. 
As  I  expect  God  to  forgive  me  1  forgive  and  love  everybody. 
Think  of  me  when  I  am  gone.  I  wish  you  could  pray  with  me  be- 
fore I  go  on  my  long  journey,  for  I  love  to  hear  you  pray.  Good- 
bye. From  your  penitent  brother  in  Christ.  A.  T. 


Jail,  June  23,  1887. 
Dear  Sister  in  Christ: 

My  time  on  this  earth  is  now  very  short  (but  seven  days)  and 
I  am  now  ready  to  go  to  my  Father,  whom  I  trust  and  pray  will 
forgive  me  my  crime  and  receive  me  in  his  heavenly  home.  I 
pray  every  hour  in  the  day  and,  my  dear  sister,  do  the  same  for 
me  that  my  sins  may  be  washed  away  in  His  blood.  Pray  that  He 
may  give  me  everlasting  life.  O,  if  I  could  but  live  my  life  over 
again,  how  I  would  pray  and  put  all  my  trust  in  Him.  Dear  sister, 
this  may  be  the  last  time  you  may  hear  from  me  on  this  earth, 
but  I  hope  we  may  meet  in  heaven.  Good-bye,  God  bless  you  and 
your  noble  work. 

Yours  waiting  to  go  to  his  Savior, 

A.  T. 

May  God  forgive  me. 


262  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

L.,  Ky.,  June  25,  1887. 
Dear  Sister  in  Christ: 

If  you  only  knew  how  much  a  poor  sinner  like  me  needs  the 
prayers  ot  such  Christians  and  lovers  of  God  and  His  Word  as  you 
are,  you  would  pray  both  night  and  day  that  He  will  receive  me 
in  his  heavenly  home,  where  there  is  no  sin  or  sorrow,  but  where 
all  is  love  and  peace.  I  have  now  but  five  short  days  until  all 
that  is  of  the  world  will  be  consigned  to  the  tomb  and  I  do  so 
pray  night  and  day  that  Jesus  will  cleanse  me  of  my  sins.  I 
think  this  will  be  the  last  time  you  will  hear  from  me  on  this 
earth  and  when  I  go  to  eternity  I  do  so  praising  God,  forgiving  my 
enemies,  firm  in  faith  and  the  belief  that  my  sins  are  washed 

away  in  the  blood  of  Jesus.     Good-bye.     May  we  meet  in  heaven. 

A.  T. 

In  1888  I  visited  a  county  jail  so  crowded  with  prisoners 
that  I  wondered  how  they  could  live  in  that  poorly  venti- 
lated, filthy  prison.  They  had  little  to  eat  and  evidently  no 
one  to  care  for  them.  There  were  Indians,  Mexicans, 
white  and  colored  all  together.  There  I  found  TEN  MEN 
UNDER  DEATH  SENTENCE;  and  I  was  convinced  that  several 
were  innocent  of  the  charges  laid  against  them — being  con- 
demned by  circumstantial  evidence.  Those  ten  condemned 
men  were  made  the  subject  of  constant,  earnest  prayer. 
O,  if  judges  and  jurymen  could  only  know  what  eternal 
destinies  hang  upon  their  decisions,  surely  they  would  be 
less  ready  to  condemn  on  less  than  positive  evidence.  Sev- 
eral of  the  ten  were  executed — among  them  the  writer  of 
the  following  letter: 

,  April  2,  1888. 

My  Dear  Sister: 

We  received  your  postal.  I  was  so  glad  to  receive  it  from  those 
who  love  my  soul;  I  have  not  forgotten  one  word  you  left  with 
me.  Jesus  Christ  is  the  subject  of  my  day  talk  and  night  dreams. 
1  remember  you  when  I  get  down  on  my  knees  to  pray.  I  pray 
for  the  Lord's  will  to  be  done  with  me  as  it  is  done  in  heaven. 


OR    A    LAKOR    OF    LOVK  263 

I  have  forsaken  the  world  for  Jesus '  sake.  His  love  is  shed  abroad 
in  my  heart.  Myself  and  Brothers  W.  and  A.  (whose  sentences 
have  been  changed)  are  still  serving  God — also  Brother  S.  I  could 
not  tell  you  how  it  is  with  the  other  boys,  but  I  talk  to  thorn 
every  day.  Brothers  W.,  A.,  and  S.  join  with  me  in  sending  the':r 
love  to  you.  God  bless  you.  I  am  your  brother  in  Christ. 


April  26,  A.  D.  1888. 
Sister  Elizabeth  K.  Wheaton.     My  Dear  Sister  in  Jesus  Christ: 

My  days  have  been  numbered  here  on  earth  by  man,  but  there 
is  no  end  to  the  number  of  days  that  my  God  has  promised  me  in 
heaven — no  more  a  prisoner  here  on  earth,  but  to  live  with  our 
Lord  forevermore.  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled  about  me,  for 
all  is  well!  Yes,  indeed,  all  is  well.  The  love  of  Christ  will  bear 
me  home.  Jesus  Christ  is  in  me  and  I  am  in  Him.  In  God  I 
trust,  in  Him  I  die.  I  could  not  tell  you  how  the  case  is  with 
the  other  boys,  but  I  do  know  for  myself  I  am  ready  at  any  time. 
My  dear  sister,  I  have  sent  the  lovely  handkerchief  you  gave  me 
home  to  my  old  mother.  I  told  mother  who  gave  it  to  me  and  for 
her  to  place  it  in  my  Bible  and  put  it  in  her  trunk  and  then  I 
said:  "Here  is  a  picture  of  mine  and  a  lock  of  hair  for  my  poor, 
old  mother  and  sisters  and .  brothers. "  I  leave  a  mother,  four  sis- 
ters and  two  brothers.  If  you  wish  sometime  to  write  to  my 

mother   her   address   is .     Farewell   until   we    meet 

again.  I  am  your  brother  in  Jesus  Christ, 


CONVERSION    OF    A    JEWISH    BOY. 

In  the  same  year,  I  found  in  one  of  the  prisons  of  Cali- 
fornia, a  young  Jew  under  sentence  of  death.  While  under 
the  influence  of  drink,  he  shot  the  girl  he  truly  loved.  He 
never  realized  it  till  he  became  sober  and  found  himself  in 
prison.  Naturally  he  was  surprised  and  greatly  shocked. 
Wondering  why  he  was  there,  and  being  told  of  his  crime, 
he  was  overwhelmed  with  grief,  and  remorse  of  conscience. 


264  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Poor  boy !  His  was  a  sad  ending.  He  was  so  grief-strick- 
en !  And  yet  the  courts  were  against  him,  and  the  world 
at  large,  for  the  sin  was  pronounced  murder  in  the  first 
degree  and  he  must  die — a  boy  in  his  teens. 

As  I  looked  through  the  grating  at  the  poor  doomed  boy, 
an  old  gentleman  spoke  to  me  and  said  something  very 
unkind  about  him.  The  boy  said,  "That  man  is  a  hypocrite. 
But  I  like  those  hymns  you  sang.  Wont  you  sing  for  me?" 
So  I  sang  for  him,  and  he  requested  me  not  to  talk  to  him 
then.  So  I  said,  "Can  I  come  and  see  you  again?"  Oh, 
yes,  come  again,  do."  This  poor  boy  was  one  of  the  lost 
ones,  and  Jesus  touched  his  heart  while  I  sang,  "Meet  me 
there."  This  was  from  that  time  on  his  favorite  hymn, 
and  I  sang  it  for  him  just  before  he  went  to  the  scaffold. 

I  went  back  and  forth  from  San  Francisco  to  other 
places  for  six  weeks,  but  his  case  lay  very  heavy  upon  my 
heart.  I  knew  that  on  the  I4th  of  September  he  was  to  go, 
and  that  worse  still,  he  was  in  danger  of  eternal  death.  I 
pleaded  and  wept  for  him  day  and  night,  that  he  might  be 
brought  to  see  his  lost  condition  and  his  need  of  Christ 
and  yield  to  God.  How  I  bless  God  that  He  hears  and 
answers  prayer!  "If  any  man  see  his  brother  sin  a  sin 
which  is  not  unto  death,  he  shall  ask,  and  he  shall  give  him 
life  for  them  that  sin  not  unto  death." — i  John  5:16. 

Before  his  conversion  I  received  from  him  the  following 
letters,  beautifully  and  correctly  written: 

San  Francisco,  Aug.  9,  1888. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wheaton: 

As  to  religion  I  do  not  profess  any  creed.  I  do  not  mean  by 
the  above  that  I  hate  them. — on  the  contrary,  I  love  religion  and 
hate  hypocrisy.  I  am  not  an  atheist  and  must  admit  that  I  be- 
lieve in  a  true,  just  and  most  merciful  God.  I  appreciate  your 
visits  very  much  and  hope  you  will  call  to  see  me  as  often  as 


OR    A    LABOR   O£   LOVE  265 

opportunity  and  convenience  will  allow,  so  1  now  close  this  brief 
epistle  by  sending  kindest  regards  and  best  wishes.    I  am 

Respectfully, 

'  <  Condemned  Cell. ' ' 

P.   S. — Kind  thanks  for  singing. 


San  Francisco,  Sept.  7,  1888. 
Mrs.  Wheaton: 

I  am  pleased  that  you  called  to  see  me  and  hope  you  will 
repeat  your  visits.  It  grieves  me  to  see  you  shed  tears,  and  al- 
though I  say  nothing,  remember  that  ''still  water  runs  deep."  I 
have  faith  and  believe  in  prayer,  so  I  believe  that  the  cause  of  a 
condemned  boy  will  te  heard  in  heaven  and  will  come  to  pass.  I 
am  not  allowed  to  shake  hands,  much  less  give  my  mother  a  com- 
forting kiss.  I  now  end  by  thanking  you  very  kindly  for  your 
kindness  and  consideration  to  me. 

I  am,  respectfully, 


I  went,  the  day  before  the  execution,  to  see  him.  No 
one  was  allowed  to  go  inside  the  doomed  boy's  cell,  so  I 
was  compelled  to  submit  to  the  law.  The  sheriff  said  posi- 
tively, "No,  you  cannot  go  inside."  But  the  chief  jailer 
said,  "I  promised  that  this  lady  should  go  inside  the  boy's 
cell  before  the  execution,  and  I  must  keep  my  word.  I 
will  go  in  with  her."  He  opened  the  door  and  we  went  in. 
He  was  a  grand  man.  Myself  and  the  sister  who  was  with 
me  prayed  for  the  prisoner's  salvation.  We  sang  and  read 
and  prayed,  and  at  last  the  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
seemed  to  fill  the  gloomy  little  cell,  and  to  touch  the  poor 
boy  kneeling  there  with  the  shackles  on  his  limbs.  (They 
frequently  put  shackles  on  some  days  before  the  execution, 
and  place  them  in  the  "doomed  cell")  We  kept  on  pray- 


266  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

ing  and  singing  and  at  last  the  light  came  into  his  heart, 
and  God  owned  him  as  His  child. 

On  the  morning  of  the  execution,  I  went  early  to  the 
prison ;  and  as  I  hurried  along  there  met  me  a  young  Catho- 
lic priest,  who  was  our  mutual  friend,  and  very  kind.  He 
said,  "Come  quickly,  the  boy  ivants  you.  He  has  called  for 
you  all  night,  and  they  could  not  find  you,  so  they  came  for 
me.  I  have  been  waiting  for  you."  This  priest  had  labored 
with  me  to  convince  the  poor  boy  that  Jesus  was  the  Christ 
and  that  He  alone  could  save  him.  I  hurried  on  into  the 
prison  for  my  last  greeting  on  earth  with  the  poor  con- 
demned boy.  There  was  no  loud  demonstration — he  was 
going  to  die,  and  knew  it ;  but  he  felt  that  he  was  ready. 
He  said  to  me:  "I  can  hardly  wait  the  hour  to  go  home. 
I  am  willing  and  ready  to  die.  O  sing  for  me  my  favorite' 
songs.  I  wish  you  could  go  with  me  to  the  scaffold,  but 
that  is  against  the  law  for  women  to  go  to  the  execution 
in  this  state."  Mothers  could  not  endure  such  things,  but 
I  feel,  when  permitted,  as  if  I  must  stay  till  all  is  over. 

I  took  a  white  silk  handkerchief  and  gently  folded  it 
around  the  boy's  neck,  and  said,  "I  think  the  rope  won't 
hurt  so  bad,  and  the  pain  won't  be  so  severe  with  this 
around  your  neck."  I  shall  never  forget  the  grateful  look 
on  his  face,  as  he  smilingly  thanked  me.  He  was  a  very 
refined  young  man,  and  only  for  whiskey  he  might  be  liv- 
ing yet.  As  I  bade  him  good-bye  he  said,  ''Please  sing  for 
me  once  more  before  I  go."  I  sang  and  passed  out  among 
the  crowds  of  people.  I  seemed  to  be  lifted  above  the 
things  of  earth — I  was  so  thankful  for  his  salvation.  Read- 
er, do  you  know  what  it  is  to  travail  for  a  soul  and  then 
count  the  hours  and  moments  till  you  see  them  go  over  the 
river  of  death,  and  by-and-by  with  the  eye  of  faith  see 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  267 

them  enter  the  pearly  gates  into  the  presence  of  Him  who 
was  crucified  for  them? 

After  the  execution  I  received  the  following  kind  letter 
from  the  young  priest  to  whom  I  have  referred : 

San  Francisco,  Oct.  13,  1888. 
Dear  Madam: 

It  was  with  great  pleasure  I  read  your  kind  and  welcome  note. 
I  thank  you  very  much  for  your  pleasant  remembrance  and  hope 
that  God  will  bless  your  efforts  and  sacrifices  on  behalf  of  the 
poor  prisoners. 

In  regard  to  A.,  I  can  say  that  he  was  resigned  to  the  last  and 
died  well  prepared,  in  my  opinion.  I  was  with  him  almost  con- 
stantly during  the  last  twelve  hours.  I  think  his  family  placed 
the  silk  handkerchief  in  the  coffin  with  him. 

Please  give  my  regards  to  your  kind  companion  and  say  some- 
times a  little  prayer  for  me.  I  hope  to  see  you  soon  in  San  Fran- 
cisco and  have  the  pleasure  of  renewing  my  acquaintance.  I 
have  the  honor  of  remaining, 

Yours  truly  in  Jesus  Christ, 

Eev.  N F . 

MYSTERIOUSLY    GUIDED. 

In  April,  1891,  I  was  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.  After  waiting 
upon  the  Lord  for  some  days  asking  Him  where  He  would 
have  me  go  next  I  was  impressed  to  go  to  the  depot  and 
that  there  it  would  be  shown  me  what  I  must  do.  I  did  so, 
but  even  then  was  left  for  several  hours  in  uncertainty  as 
to  what  train  to  take,  as  I  had  passes  on  four  different 
lines.  I  spent  the  time  in  earnest  prayer.  At  last,  toward 
evening,  I  was  led  to  take  the  Rock  Island  train  for  Chi- 
cago and  impressed  that  the  Lord  would  show  me  when 
and  where  to  stop.  I  had  two  sisters  and  a  little  boy  with 
'me  and  they  could  not  understand  my  indecision. 

As  our  train  hurried  on  during  the  night,  I  kept  asking 
the  Lord  where  I  should  stop,  and  He  made  it  very  plain 


268  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

; 

to  me  that  I  was  to  stop  at  Ottawa,  111.  I  knew  no  one 
there,  and  there  was  no  state-prison  there,  but  the  Lord 
showed  me  to  go  to  the  county  jail  and  when  I  did  so 
found  there  were  several  men  there  soon  to  be  executed. 
I  was  told  that  no  one  was  permitted  to  see  them;  but  we 
went  praying  and  the  Lord  touched  the  hearts  of  the  offi- 
cers and  we  were  permitted  to  hold  a  service.  We  were 
much  helped  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  I  believe  some  of  these 
condemned  men  were  saved — at  least  they  seemed  to  give 
evidence  of  it.  One  of  them  afterwards  wrote  me  two  let- 
ters. These  I  give  to  my  readers.  It  is  well  to  remember, 
however,  that  not  many  such  prisoners  are  accustomed  to 
expressing  their  thoughts  in  writing  and  hence  their  letters 
fail  to  express  the  depth  of  feeling  clearly  shown  in  their 
words  and  manner  when  I  am  with  them.  Again  all  their 
letters  are  to  be  read  before  they  leave  the  prison,  so  they 
do  not  open  their  hearts  as  freely  when  writing  as  when 
speaking  with  me  alone. 

La  Salle  County  Jail, 
Ottawa,  111.,  April  28,  1891. 
Elizabeth  B.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Sister:  We  are  doing  very  well.  As  for  Mr.  C.  and  myself, 
we  will  do  the  best  we  can  to  reach  that  Beautiful  home  in  the 
New  Jerusalem,  for  the  Lord  saith:  "He  that  believeth  and  abideth 
in  Me  shall  have  everlasting  life. ' '  As  you  must  have  seen,  our  be- 
lief is  a  little  different  from  yours  in  some  respects,  but,  neverthe- 
less, we  are  all  working  for  that  one  place  and  that  is  heaven.  He 
that  leaveth  his  sins  behind  him  shall  be  saved.  The  example  of 
those  who  died  for  Christ,  for  the  faith  and  for  virtue's  sake  are 
also  continually  placed  before  us  that  we  may  learn  to  endure  suf- 
ferings and  even  death  rather  than  be  unfaithful  to  God  and  stain 
our  conscience  with  sin.  The  Christian's  motto  is,  "Death  before 
dishonor."  Hoping  that  you  will  continue  to  pray  for  us  that  we 
may  be  cleansed  from  sin  and  be  saved,  we  send  you  our  sincere 


OR   A    LABOR  OF    LOVE  269 

and  hearty  wishes  for  your  welfare.  God  bless  you  and  keep  you 
ever  for  your  sincere  effort  in  our  behalf.  Hoping  that  we  may 
meet  in  that  beautiful  place  where  the  penitent  shall  find  rest,  I 
remain  yours  in  respect,  CHARLIE . 


La  Salle  County  Jail, 
Ottawa,  111.,  May  6,  1891. 
Dear  Sister: 

I  was  glad  to  receive  your  letter  and  to  hear  that  you  are  still 
praying  for  us.  Mr.  F.  has  gone  out,  so  there  are  just  two  of  us — 
me  and  Mr.  C.,  who,  I  think,  will  get  a  new  trial.  He  sends  his 
kind  regards  and  is  doing  well. 

As  for  me,  I  am  very  close  to  the  grave  as  I  have  only  four 
more  days  to  live,  but  hope  that  it  will  be  all  for  the  best.  I  am 
preparing  myself  for  death  as  much  as  possible  for  so  short  a  time. 
My  thoughts  are  not  of  the  outside  world,  but  of  a  higher  world, 
where  there  is  no  sin  or  trouble  or  care,  but  everylasting  life  and 
happiness.  I  also  hope  that  we  may  meet  in  that  haven  of  rest. 
I  will  do  as  you  say,  put  my  trust  in  God  and  believe  in  Him. 
Life  is  very  short  at  best,  but  we  all  have  our  cares  and  troubles 
and  must  bear  with  them  the  best  we  can,  as  we  are  helpless 
without  the  grace  of  God.  Thanking  you  sincerely  for  your  kind 
efforts  in  our  behalf,  I  remain  your  brother  in  all  sincerity.  Fare- 
well. Yours  in  respect, 

CHARLIE  . 

IN   LONG  EXPECTATION. 

.1  first  saw  E.  B —  in  the  jail  in  Wichita,  Kansas.  There 
were  many  prisoners  there  at  that  time  and  especially  in 
the  Oklahoma  ward.  It  was  soon  after  the  opening  up  of 
Oklahoma  territory  and  the  rush  for  claims.  There  was 
great  excitement  and  many  lost  their  lives.  Some  were 
thrown  from  their  horses  and  killed.  Others  died  from 
exhaustion,  running  as  for  life  to  get  the  property  they  so 
much  coveted.  There  were  many  things  done  that  were 
wrong.  Some  are  still  lingering  inside  prison  walls  for 
"defending  their  rights"  as  they  thought.  I  do  not  remem- 


,.  PRAYER 

ber  just  what  E.'s  trouble  was,  but  he  was  sentenced  to 
death  and  the  day  and  the  hour  were  set.  I  went  often  to 
the  prison  and  sang  and  prayed  for  the  prisoners.  They 
were  my  friends.  I  knew  and  loved  them  as  a  mother 
would,  and  especially  this  young  boy — the  youngest  of 
them  all. 

I  went  away  to  Europe  and  on  my  return  I  again  visited 
the  jail  in  Wichita  to  hold  a  service.  While  singing  the 
first  hymn  the  jailer  came  into  the  apartment  where  I  was 
and  said,  "The  Oklahoma  boys  have  heard  you  singing  and 
want  you  to  come  at  once  to  their  ward.  They  did  not 
know  you  had  returned  from  Scotland  and  are  so  anxious 
to  see  you."  And  such  a  welcome  as  those  dear  boys  and 
men  gave  me  I  had  received  no  where  else  since  my  return. 
Some  were  under  death  sentences.  O  how  my  heart  aches 
even  now  as  I  think  of  the  tears  they  shed  and  of  their 
warm  handclasp.  Then  I  could  only  fall  on  my  knees  and 
sob  out  my  sorrow  for  them  and  my  heartfelt  thanks  to 
God  for  the  warm  welcome  and  as  I  wept  and  prayed  I 
believe  good  was  accomplished  and  souls  saved.  Some  are 
dead  and  gone.  Others  are  in  the  asylum  for  the  criminal 
insane.  A  few  were  pardoned  out.  Eddie's  case  lingered. 
While  hoping  for  a  commutation  of  sentence  he  wrote  the 
following  letter: 

Wichita,  May  3,  1891. 
Dear  Friend: 

I  received  your  kind  letter.  Was  glad  to  hear  you  were  well  and 
still  at  your  post,  working  for  others.  I  am  still  in  iny  little  cell 
awaiting  what  comes  and  have  not  heard  much  yet  regarding  com- 
mitment, but  hope  it  may  come  in  time.  I  am  feeling  as  though  I 
have  a  heavy  load  on  my  shoulders  for  a  boy,  but  I  hope  and  pray 
for  the  best  to  come.  I  want  to  see  the  light,  if  there  is  any  for 
me.  I  sometimes  think  that  I  am  forgotten;  and  then  again  I  know 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  27! 

better,  for  there  is  One  who  never  forgets  us.  I  have  read  those 
nice  tracts  you  sent  me  and  they  are  all  true.  The  boys  are  all  well 
and  send  their  best  respects  to  you  and  hope  to  meet  you  again;  and 
you  know  I  do,  for  I  feel  the  need  of  your  kindness  and  appreciate 
it  highly.  1  know  what  a  kind  mother  is.  I  have  a  good  Christian 
mother  and  father.  Oh,  if  I  were  only  free  again,  so  I  could  enjoy 
life  with  my  dear  mother!  No  one  knows  how  lonely  I  am.  You 

are  only  one  hundred  miles  from  my  home  in  ,  Illinois.     If 

you  go  there  you  could  find  them  by  enquiring  for  them.  They  would 
be  glad  to  see  you,  as  I  have  told  them  about  your  being  here.  I 
hope  some  day  that  you  can  come  and  see  me  on  the  outside.  What 
a  happy  boy  I  would  be!  If  not,  I  hope  we  may  meet  in  that 
brighter  home.  I  have  been  reading  my  Bible  and  find,  relief.  What 
a  book  it  is,  and  the  good  that  can  be  gotten  from  it!  T  wish  you 
success  through  life  and  that  you  may  save  many  a  poor  *ost  sinner. 
No  one  knows  the  good  they  can  do  until  they  try. 

May  God  bless  you,  is  my  prayer.  EDDIE  — . 

SENTENCE   COMMUTED. 

Many  of  those  acquainted  with  the  case  were  anxious 
for  his  release  but  met  with  little  encouragement.  I  con- 
tinued to  pray  earnestly  that  at  least  his  life  might  be 
spared.  When  the  day  appointed  for  his  execution  came 
I  was  in  a  distant  state  some  miles  from  a  telegraph  office, 
but  I  sent  a  little  boy  to  the  office  with  a  message  telling 
him  that  the  Lord  might  even  yet  deliver  him  and  if  not 
would  sustain  him  in  his  dying  moments.  The  same  day^a 
wire  came  for  him  from  the  governor  changing  his  sen- 
tence to  imprisonment  for  life.  He  was  transferred  to  a 
northern  prison,  but  only  lived  a  few  years.  So  far  as  I 
could  learn  he  lived  and  died  a  Christian,  and  I  hope  to  see 
him  again  by  and  by  in  heaven. 

A    MAN   DECEIVED. 

At  one  time  I  held  a  service  with  the  prisoners  in  the 
county  jail  in  Sedalia,  Missouri.  Among  them  was  a 


27?  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

poor  old  man  awaiting  execution.  He  seemed  unmoved, 
stolid,  indifferent.  I  talked  and  prayed  with  him  and  asked 
him  about  his  soul's  salvation.  He  said  it  was  all  right 
with  his  soul  and  that  he  was  saved.  I  knew  the  Lord 
showed  me  that  he  was  a  deceived  man  and  that  the  devil 
had  deluded  him  into  thinking  he  was  all  right.  I  was 
faithful  to  my  convictions,  to  my  God  and  to  his  soul.  I 
said  to  him :  "You  are  not  prepared  to  face  the  scaffold 
and  death."  He  seemed  indignant  that  I  should  doubt  his 
word,  but  I  left  him  with  the  warning,  "Prepare  to  meet 
thy  God." 

I  went  to  the  wife  of  the  sheriff,  who  was  an  excellent 
woman,  and  found  she  too  was  very  anxious  about  his  soul. 
I  told  her  of  my  burden  for  him  and  asked  for  a  room 
where  I  could  wait  on  God  in  prayer  and  she  kindly  fur- 
nished it.  In  an  hour  the  old  man  sent  word  to  the  sheriff 
to  send  for  me  to  come  and  pray  for  him  as  he  was  not  fit 
to  die.  In  company  with  others  I  went  to  him  and  the 
poor  deceived  old  man  repented  of  his  sins  and  confessed 
them  to  God  and  to  us  and  was  blessedly  saved  and  died 
in  the  full  assurance  of  faith.  His  last  words  were  of  his 
hope  in  Christ  and  of  his  acceptance  with  God.  I  fully  be- 
lieve that  the  blood  of  Jesus — who  died  on  the  cross  for 
sinners  and  was  the  friend  of  sinners  always — did  cleanse 
his  soul.  The  sheriff's  wife  told  me  of  his  last  words  and 
that  all  was  well.  We  give  a  clipping  from  a  Sedalia  paper 
concerning  the  case. 

VISITORS  EXCLUDED. 

WILLIAMSON    WiLL    RECEIVE    NO    MORE    VISITS — PREPARATION     FOR    THE 

EXECUTION. 

Sheriff  Ellis  R.  Smith  has  commenced  to  make  his  arrangements 
for  the  execution  of  Thomas  A.  Williamson,  and  everything  will  be 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  273 

in  readiness  before  Saturday  morning.  The  rope  with  which  John 
Oscar  Turlington  and  Bill  Price  were  hanged  will  be  used,  the  sheriff 
having  received  a  telegram  yesterday  from  Sheriff  Mat  S.  Ayers,  of 
Saline  county,  stating  that  it  had  been  forwarded  to  him  by  express. 
On  the  day  of  execution  the  police  force  will  assist  the  county 
authorities  in  preserving  order  in  the. vicinity  of  the  jail  building. 

No  more  visitors  will  be  permitted  to  see  and  talk  with  William- 
son, except  his  spiritual  advisers.  This  is  in  compliance  with  the 
condemned  man's  wishes,  v/hich  are  contained  in  the  following  note 
which  he  sent  to  Sheriff  Smith  yesterday: 

"Sheriff  Smith:  I  would  like  a  cell  by  myself  the  rest  of  my 
time.  You  can  put  me  any  place.  I  will  give  you  no  trouble.  My 
mind  is  on  God.  I  would  like  to  be  upstairs;  it  is  lighter  up  there. 
I  will  go  where  you  put  me.  T.  A.  W. ' ' 

I  received  from  him  the  following  letters  written  after 
his  conversion.  One  of  them  reached  me  after  his  execution : 

Sedalia,  Mo. 
Sister  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton: 

I  am  well  this  morning.  I  thank  God  for  it.  I  hope  this  will  find 
you  well.  I  prayed  to  God  to  watch  over  me  through  the  night, 
and  He  did.  I  feel  happy.  I  will  meet  you  across  the  river.  We 
will  have  a  good  time.  May  God  keep  you.  I  am  going  to  heaven. 
I  will  meet  you  in  that  bright  land.  I  am  glad  to  hear  from  you. 

THOS.  A. 


Sedalia,  Mo.,  October  29,  1891. 
My  True  Mother: 

I  got  your  letter  right  now.  I  read  it  and  got  on  my  knees  and 
prayed  to  God  to  have  mercy  on  me.  My  sister,  I  have  my  mind  on 
Jesus  all  the  time.  I  feel  happy  this  morning.  Mother,  I  will  meet 
you  on  the  other  shore.  Mother  S.  (the  sheriff's  wife)  is  so  kind  to 
me!  My  mind  is  on  God  so  I  can  hardly  write.  I  will  pray  for  you. 

THOS.  A. 

INTERCEDED  FOR  THE   LIFE  OF   A   BOY. 

I  went  to  a  city  in  1898,  where  there  were  four  under 


274  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

sentence  of  death,  and  when  I  went  into  the  jail  found 
many  waiting  trial.  Some  were  going  to  state's  prison. 
Others  were  to  die  on  the  scaffold.  1  was  especially  im- 
pressed with  the  case  of  one  boy  who  was  under  death  sen- 
tence. I  held  a  service  with  the  prisoners  and  talked  per- 
sonally to  those  condemned  to  die.  One  man  was  wonder- 
fully saved  and  I  believe  went  to  heaven  from  the  scaffold. 
I  then  went  away  to  other  states.  But  I  was  so  troubled 
I  made  inquiries  and  found  that  the  young  boy  to  whom  I 
referred  zvas  not  charged  with  being  a  murderer,  and  was 
not  deserving  of  death.  I  plead  to  God  if  there  was  noth- 
ing the  law  could  find  in  him  worthy  of  death,  that  his  sen- 
tence might  be  commuted,  and  the  poor  boy  might  live. 
Upon  my  return  I  went  to  the  capital  to  see  the  Governor, 
and  asked  him  to  grant  the  boy  a  life  sentence  in  prison. 
My  request  was  granted,  it  was  soon  all  settled  and  the 
boy's  life  was  spared.  Yet  the  Deputy  Sheriff  was  very 
angry  at  the  Governor  for  granting  the  commutation ! 

WENT  TO  THE  SCAFFOLD   SINGING. 

In  May,  1899,  another  poor  prisoner  ended  his  life  on 
the  scaffold.  The  Friday  before,  two  died  on  the  same  gal- 
lows. I  visited  them  the  day  before  the  execution,  talked 
and  sang  hymns  (their  favorites),  and  then  we  three 
kneeled  together  in  prayer  in  the  little  "condemned  cell." 
Kneeling  between  my  boys,  clasping  each  by  the  hand,  we 
gave  ourselves  to  the  blessed  Savior,  who  said  just  before 
he  expired  on  the  cross,  "Father,  forgive  them,  for  they 
know  not  what  they  do."  I  shall  never  forget  that  last 
prayer  meeting  with  those  unfortunate  men  who  had  been 
led  astray  by  evil  surroundings  and  associations,  forming 
habits  which  finally  sent  them  to  early  graves,  by  fearful 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  2/5 

deaths.  Yet,  as  we  knelt  there  together,  just  we  three  and 
the  blessed  Holy  Spirit  witnessing,  we  promised  to  meet 
in  Heaven.  Jesus  met  us  there  and  forgave  them  their 
•sins,  and  joy  rilled  our  souls  with  love  for  Him  who  gave 
Himself  a  ransom  for  us,  not  willing  that  any  should  perish, 
but  rather  that  all  should  have  eternal  life.  How  my  heart 
rejoiced  to  hear  them  say  they  were  prepared  to  go,  and 
the  parting  was  very  sweet.  A  solemn  hush  filled  the  little 
cell — sweet  peace  which  only  comes  when  souls  have  been 
redeemed,  fell  upon  my  heart,  and  I  was  glad  Jesus  Him- 
self did  His  own  work  for  His  own  name's  honor  and 
glory.  They  sang  hymns  and  prayed  all  night  before  the 
execution.  They  refused  to  eat,  preferring  to  sing  and 
pray  till  the  last,  and  went  to  the  scaffold  singing  and 
praising  God,  and  were  still  singing  when  the  drop  fell, 
and  they  were  gone  from  earth. 

My  heart  cried  out  for  the  living  that  May  morning,  as 
another  one  went  to  the  scaffold,  "O  God,  save  his  soul !  O 
God,  forgive  him  all  his  sins.  The  same  scaffold,  the  same 
sin,  and  the  same  Jesus  to  blot  out  all  his  transgressions." 
I  believe  God,  where  he  says,  Isa.  i  :i8,  "Though  your  sins 
be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be  as  white  as  snow :  though  they 
be  red  like  crimson  they  shall  be  as  wool."  If  it  were  not 
for  the  promises  of  God  in  His  blessed  Word,  I  should  give 
up  in  despair,  sometimes,  over  those  cases  who  have  been 
so  deceived  by  the  devil.  Yet  God  is  able  to  snatch  them  as 
brands  from  the  burning.  Jude  22-23  says,  ''And  of  some 
have  compassion,  making  a  difference :  and  others  save  with 
fear,  pulling  them  out  of  the  fire ;  hating  even  the  garment 
spotted  by  the  flesh."  Jesus  said,  "Whosoever  will  may 
come,"  I  believe  His  promises  are  "Yea  and  amen  to  all 
that  believe."  When  I  see  what  saloons  and  other  evils  are 


2/6  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

doing  to  wreck  lives  and  ruin  souls,  I  wonder  how  God 
on  His  throne  can  ever  forgive  such  premeditated,  inten- 
tional sins.  The  keepers  of  these  places  sell  themselves  to 
Satan  to  be  used  by  him  to  defeat  God's  plan  of  saving 
those  who  will  come  unto  Him.  O  that  all  who  claim  to  be 
Christians  would  unite  to  overthrow  the  means  that  Satan 
uses  to  le'ad  down  to  eternal  death  so-  many  precious  souls ! 
The  case  to  which  I  shall  now  refer  was  one  in  many 
respects  especially  touching.  The  condemned  man  had  oc- 
cupied a  prominent  official  position.  The  dear,  noble 
wife  never  turned  away  from  her  husband.  Hers  were 
the  kind  heart  and  hands  that  ministered  to  his  needs  and 
cheered  the  long,  gloomy  hours  of  his  imprisonment.  She 
stood  by  him  in  his  trial  and  during  those  days  of  agony 
and  suspense.  Then  came  the  verdict  "Guilty,"  and  the 
sentence  of  death!  Yet,  though  her  own  heart  was  break- 
ing as  she  thought  of  herself  and  her  beautiful,  helpless 
children,  she  still  sought  to  cheer  and  comfort  as  best  she 
could  that  poor  condemned  man  whose  heart  was  torn  with 
anguish  when  he  realized  that  because  of  his  sin  that  faith- 
ful loving  wife  and  those  innocent  children  must  be  left  dis- 
graced and  destitute.  What  is  to  become  of  the  little  ones 
who  are  powerless  to  help  themselves  and  of  the  poor  de- 
spised, rejected,  forsaken  mother,  trying  to  earn  with  her 
own  hands  by  toiling  night  and  day  enough  to  feed  and 
clothe  those  helpless  babes?  O  my  God,  will  you  not  help 
me  to  provide  a  home  for  such  as  these?  For  the  sake  of 
these  heart-broken  mothers  whose  lives  are  doomed  to  be 
(only  as  helped  by  the  grace  of  God)  one  great  unending 
sorrow — for  the  sake  of  the  poor  children  so  cruelly  robbed 
of  their  birthright — a  father's  good  name  and  protection, 
these  who  are  worse  than  orphans,  yet  for  whom  nobody 


OR   A   LABOR  OF   LOVE  277 

seems  to  care,  help  me  to  do  what  I  can — what  thou  dost 
require  at  my  hands.  This  man  was  brought  up  in  a  Chris- 
tian home  and  but  for  the  power  of  evil  associations  with 
which  he  was  brought  in  contact  and  the  curse  of  the  legal- 
ized saloon,  would  today  in  all  probability  have  been  a  re- 
spected and  honorable  member  of  society. 

I  first  found  him  one  Fourth  of  July.  While  others  were 
spending  the  holiday  I  went  toiling  through  the  heat  to  the 
prison  and  there  I  found  my  reward.  My  soul  was  borne 
upward  by  the  Holy  Spirit  as  I  sang  many  songs  of  praise 
and  tenderly  led  this  poor  man  to  the  foot  of  the  cross  where 
he  was  saved.  His  wife  was  there  a  part  of  the  time.  I 
seem  to  see  the  parting  even  now  of  those  dear  ones !  Well, 
God  knows  it  all.  Had  I  never  known  a  wife's  and  a 
mother's  love  I  could  not  have  sympathized  with  them  as 
I  did.  I  thought — W'hat  if  my  boy  had  lived  and  come  to 
such  an  end — and  I  wept  with  that  faithful  wife  as  she  took 
leave.  O,  sisters,  there  is  a  power  in  even  a  look  of  love 
coming  from  a  true  heart. 

I  give  two  letters  received  from  the  condemned  man  and 
one  written  me  by  his  wife.  I  omit  the  name  of  place  and 
exact  date  and  even  the  initials,  as  so  few  years  have  passed 
and  I  do  not  wish  to  do  anything  that  might  bring  pain  to 
the  hearts  of  surviving  friends.  The  family  was  of  the  most 
cultured  and  respected. 

July,  1899. 
Dear  Sister  Wheaton: 

It  was  with  the  greatest  pleasure  that  I  read  your  card  this  morn- 
ing. I  was  wondering  where  you  were;  but  I  knew  that  if  your 
health  permitted  you,  you  were  somewhere  doing  good  to  some  poor 
unfortunate. 

Yes,  I  am  putting  my  entire  trust  in  Jesus.  He  saves  me  from 
my  sins  and  when  the  cares  and  woes  of  this  life  come  to  disturb 


278  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

my  peace,  I  look  unto  the  Savior  and  soon  all  is  peace  again.  What 
would  I  do  in  a  place  like  this  and  under  such  circumstances  did 
not  his  gentle  voice  speak  unto  me  and  say,  ' '  Fear  not,  I  will  not 
leave  nor  forsake  you. "  My  wife  was  down  to  see  me  last  Mon- 
day, and  is  coming  today  (Thursday).  She  wrote  me  that  your 
songs  and  prayer  were  still  ringing  in  her  ears — so  you  see  that  your 
good  work  is  not  only  felt  by  prisoners.  I  hope  that  you  may  be 
able  to  go  on  with  the  good  work  that  so  much  delights  you  and 
that  you  may  yet  win  many  wandering  souls  and  bring  them  into 
the  fold  of  God  and  that  when  your  work  on  earth  is  ended  you  may 
rest  from  your  labors  in  the  most  beautiful  palace  in  the  city  of 
heaven.  You  may  think  that  strange  that  I  said  "palace,"  but  I 
believe  that  heaven  is  a  real  and  tangible  city — the  home  of  God, 
from  where  He  sends  the  Holy  Ghost  to  dwell  in  the  hearts  of  all 
those  who  are  willing  to  receive  Him. 

I  will  now  say  good-by,  and  if  I  never  again  meet  you  on  this 
earth,  I  hope  to  meet  you  in  heaven. 

I  am  yours  most  sincerely  in  the  hope  of  heaven. 


August,  1899. 

My  Dear  Mother,  for  such  you  seem  to  me,  I  will  never  while  I  am 
on  this  earth  cease  to  think  of  you.     I  have  remembered  your  voice 

since  I  first  heard  you  sing  and  pray  while  in  the  cells  of  poor  W 

and  S ,   the  condemned  men.     I  wished  then  that  I  could  have 

seen  you,  and  I  told  the  boys  that  you  were  certainly  born  of  God; 
and  from  that  day  I  have  desired  to  have  your  influence  and  prayers. 
I  am  still  trusting  in  the  love,  mercy  and  power  of  the  Savior  to 
save  my  soul  in  the  eternal  world  and  to  keep  me  from  sin  while  I 
am  in  this.  I  have  no  other  hope,  nc  other  desire  than  to  serve  my 
Master.  I  would  want  to  attain  to  a  state  of  perfection  here,  if 
such  were  possible,  but  you  know  that  the  cares  of  this  life  come  in 
to  rob  us  of  the  pleasure  that  we  would  enjoy  in  the  anticipation  of 
heaven.  But  some  day  the  dark  clouds  that  overshadow  us  and 
prevent  us  for  a  while  from  seeing  the  Savior's  smiling  face  will  be 

rolled   away.     I   am    glad  to   tell  you   that  the   sentence   of  K , 

whose  cell  was  next  to  mine,  has  been  commuted  to  life  imprisonment. 
He  and  the  wan  P send  their  regards  to  you.  P 's  sentence 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  279 

is  respited  until  the  17th  of  November,  and  in  the  meantime  he  hopes 
for  a  new  trial. 

I   will   close,   wishing   you   the   choicest   blessings    of   heaven,   and 
I  am  yours  very  sincerely,  trusting  in  the  hope  of  eternal  life, 

Your  brother  in  Christ. 


The  following  from  the  Star  of — ,  ,  ex- 
plains itself.  The  men  are  referred  to  in  the  above  letter : 

BOTH    TWICE    CONVICTED    OF    THE    CRIME    OF    MURDER. 

Everything  is  in  readiness  at  the  District  jail  for  the  double  exe- 
cution which  is  to  take  place  tomorrow,  when  S and  W will 

pay  the  penalty  of  their  crimes.  So  far  as  outward  appearances 
are  concerned,  the  condemned  men  are  in  a  better  frame  of  mind 
than  are  most  of  the  other  prisoners  in  the  big  brown-stone  prison. 
Their  spiritual  advisers  are  with  them  most  of  the  time,  and  when 
they  are  absent  the  men  pass  the  hours  reading  religious  books  and 
praying. 

S and  W have  both  been  well-behaved  prisoners  and  have 

given  the  jail  officials  no  trouble  whatever.  The  former  has  been 
particularly  friendly  with  the  guards  and  others,  and  today  he 
thanked  several  of  them  for  past  kindnesses.  He  also  desired  to 
express  his  gratitude  to  his  many  friends  for  what  they  had  done  for 

him,  and  said  he  desired  to  do  so  through  the  Star.  S has  had 

many  visitors  during  the  entire  time  of  his  confinement  in  jail,  but 
more  especially  during  recent  weeks.  Most  of  them  have  been  female 
relatives.  They  have  been  endeavoring  to  collect  funds  enough  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  a  decent  burial.  In  the  event  of  their  being 
successful  the  body  will  be  turned  over  to  them  after  the  execution 
by  the  undertaker  employed  by  the  government  to  prepare  the 
bodies  for  burial. 

Monday  afternoon,  just  before  the  prison  doors  were  locked  for  the 
day,  the  bell  rang  and  the  guard  at  the  door  admitted  a  woman  who 
handed  in  her  card  on  which  was  printed: 

"Elizabeth   Rider  Wheaton, 

"Prison  Evangelist. 
.  "No  Home  but  Heaven." 


28O  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

She  had  with  her  a  number  of  tracts  which  she  distributed  to  some 
of  the  prisoners.  Her  religious  work  is  all  done  in  prisons,  and  she 
makes  a  specialty  of  laboring  with  condemned  men.  She  stated  to 
the  guards  that  she  had  traveled  about  2,000  miles  to  see  those  in 
jail  here  before  their  execution.  The  warden  admitted  her  to  the 

cells.    She  had  W and  S join  her  in  prayer  and  song  in  the 

latter 's  cell,  and  the  men  seemed  greatly  to  appreciate  her  hour's 
visit.     She  next  saw  E —  —  S ,  who  is  to  die  on  the  scaffold  next 

week.     He,  too,  appeared  to  enjoy  her  call. 
Star. 


August,  1899. 
Mrs.  Wheaton. 

My  Dear  Sister :  I  must  write  a  few  lines  to'  you,  in  my  husband 's 
letter,  as  you  have  shown  yourself  so  kind  to  him,  poor  fellow.  I 
can  see  you  now  and  hear  you,  in  my  fancy,  singing  those  beautiful 
pieces.  Oh,  how  sad  I  felt  on  that  Fourth  of  July  as  I  sat  and  lis- 
tened, especially  to  the  one  called  ' '  Some  Mother 's  Child, "  as  ] 
looked  upon  my  dear  husband  and  thought  of  his  mother  and  how 
tenderly  he  had  been  reared  by  Christian  parents,  and  was  always  a 
good  and  thoughtful  son  and  husband  until  by  reason  of  evil  asso- 
ciations he  fell  into  sin  and  kept  going  further  and  further  from 
God  until  at  last  he  was  led  to  do  the  most  dreadful  of  deeds.  How 
I  pity  him! 

O  how  happy  I  once  was!  Had  a  pretty  home  and  everything  to 
brighten  it.  But  alas,  they  have  vanished  and  now  I  feel  alone, 
without  anything.  Did  I  say  ''alone?"  No,  not  so,  for  the  God 
that  I  have  served  and  who  has  been  with  me  these  twenty  years,  is 
still  with  me;  and  I  feel  to  say,  "Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I 
trust  him."  I  feel  that  he  will  open  up  a  way  for  his  children. 
Now,  my  dear  sister,  I  would  love  to  see  you  again  in  this  life  and 
talk  with  you,  but  if  I  never  meet  you  here  I  trust  I  shall  meet  you 
above,  where  your  voice  will  be  heard  with  the  angels  of  God.  Please 
remember  me  to  your  lady  helper.  Would  be  glad  to  hear  from  you 
at  any  time.  Good-bye.  Yours  in  love  and  the  hope  of  heaven, 


Two  years  later,  while  in  the  same  city,  a  friend  invited 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  28 1 

me  to  go  to  an  open-air  service  and  after  I  had  sung  and 
spoken  to  those  who  were  gathered  a  dear  lady  clasped  my 
hand  and  said :  "I  am  so  glad  to  see  you,  mother — don't  you 
know  me?"  As  I  failed  to  recognize  her  she  turned  her 
careworn  but  lovely  face  so  that  the  electric  light  shone 
full  upon  her  and  said,  "Don't  you  remember  me  now?" 
When  I  still  answered  "No,  I  do  not,"  the  tears  gathered 
in  the  dear  eyes  as  she  said,  "My  husband  never  forgot  your 
singing  and  your  prayers  before  he  went  away,"  and  then  it 
dawned  upon  me  that  she  was  the  wife  of  the  man  the  peo- 
ple hung  to  gratify  the  saloon  men's  greed.  She  said:  "I 
do  wish  I  could  ask  you  home  with  me,  but  I  have  only  a 
little  hall  room  for  myself  and  children.  I  am  keeping 
boarders  to  make  a  living  for  myself  and  them."  O  how  I 
wished  for  a  home  to  which  I  could  welcome  them,  but  I, 
too,  am  a  pilgrim  and  a  stranger,  and  all  I  could  do  was  to 
kiss  the  dear  sister  and  commend  her  to  the  widow's  God 
and  her  dear  ones  to  the  Father  of  the  fatherless. 

The  letters  following  are  from  two  brothers  with  whom 
I  labored,  and  who  showed  much  appreciation  of  my  -efforts 
with  them  and  professed  to  be  saved.  I  received  a  number 
of  encouraging  letters  from  them  and  from  others  in  the 
same  place  before  they  were  taken  away.  We  can  not 
always  tell  as  to  the  sincerity  of  these  poor  men,  or  of  their 
responsibility,  some  of  them  doubtless  are  so  nearly  unbal- 
anced in  mind,  under  such  a  strain,  but  we  know  the  God 
of  heaven  before  whom  we  must  all  stand  will  judge  right- 
eously. 

October  18,  1903. 
My  Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

While  my  dear  unfortunate  brother,  Mr.  K.,  has  given  me  space 
in  his  letter,  I  just  wish  to  congratulate  you  for  the  wonderful  good 
you  did  while  here  with  us,  as  we  have  not  forgotten  your  topic, 


282  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

' '  Salvation, ' '  and  often  speak  of  you  and  hope  you  will  come  again 
at  your  earliest  convenience.  Thank  God  there  is  some  of  us  have 
the  Spirit  of  God  with  us.  Bless  His  holy  name!  And  I  for  one 
can  praise  Him  for  the  wonderful  good  He  has  done  me,  and  through 
His  wonderful  love  I  have  been  granted  a  stay  of  execution,  which 
was  to  take  place  the  21st  of  this  month;  for  God  in  heaven  knows  I 
am  innocent  of  this  crime,  as  is  also  my  brother.  I  am  sorry  to  say 
I  do  not  know  much  about  the  Bible,  but  intend  to  learn  more 
about  His  wonderful  love  to  man,  and  will  serve  Him  to  the  end. 
Trusting  that  you  will  look  upon  us  as  your  children,  I  will  close, 
hoping  to  hear  from  you  again,  Your  unfortunate  boy, 

B.  W. 


Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

Eeceived  your  letter  and  was  glad  to  hear  from  you.  It  brought 
great  joy  to  our  bleeding  hearts.  We  think  of  you  and  wish  you 
could  talk  and  sing  for  us  every  day.  Your  kind,  loving  words  bring 
me  near  to  God.  When  I  leave  this  world  I  will  go  to  my  heavenly 
Father,  where  there  is  everlasting  life,  and  if  we  never  meet  on 
earth,  I  will  meet  you  in  heaven.  I  shall  never  forget  you  and  the 
prayer  you  made  for  me.  We  felt  bad  when  you  could  not  come  back 
and  tell  us  about  our  loving  God.  Pray  for  me  that  I  may  walk 
daily  with  God.  I  remain  as  ever,  Your  dear  boy, 

A.  W. 

Columbus,  Ohio. 

THREE    YOUNG    MEN. 

Some  cases  of  special  interest  to  me  because  of  such  re- 
cent occurrence,  are  the  three  young  men  mentioned  else- 
where and  from  whom  I  received  the  following  letters.  I 
will  first  give  a  note  very  kindly  written  me  by  the  son  of 
the  warden,  in  answer  to  an  inquiry  about  the  cases  while 
they  were  awaiting  some  decision  of  the  supreme  court :  '. 

Colorado  State  Penitentiary. 

Canon  City,  Colo.,  December  7,  1904. 
Mother  E.  R.  Wheaton,  Tabor,  Towa. 

Dear  Mother:     I  have  not  answered  your  postal  on  account  of  my 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  283 

absence  from  the  city,  but  I  hope  you  will  overlook  the  delay.  The 
fate  of  the  four  prisoners  under  sentence  of  death  is  still  undecided, 
as  their  case  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Supreme  Court.  There  is  some 
doubt  as  to  the  legality  of  the  law  and  it  is  a  hard  matter  to  tell 
what  the  outcome  will  be.  No,  my  folks  did  not  attend  the  Prison 
Congress  this  year  on  account  of  my  sister 's  health.  The  boys  at 
the  prison  often  speak  of  you  and  some  have  started  to  forget  the 
past  and  try  to  do  better  in  the  future  on  account  of  the  good  words 
you  spoke  to  them.  I  hope  you  will  come  to  see  us  before  my  father 
goes  out  of  office,  but  if  this  is  impossible,  I  pray  that  we  may 

meet  at  some  future  time.     I  remain,  '          Yours  respectfully, 

WILLARD  CLEGHORN. 


Canon  City,  Colo.,  May  3,  1904. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

I  have  received  your  kind  letter  and  postal  and  I  am  very  glad 
to  know  that  you  have  not  forgotten  me.  I  have  not  forgotten  you 
either,  nor  never  will.  For  it  was  no  other  than  you  who  put  me  on 
the  right  road  to  heaven,  and  I  know  that  if  I  do  all  you  told  me  that 
I  will  meet  you  there.  I  am  praying  both  day  and  night,  and  I 
pray  from  my  heart,  and  mean  every  word  that  I  say,  and  I  know 
that  my  sorrow  is  more  than  I  can  bear  without  God  's  help.  I  know 
that  God  has  forgiven  me  all  of  my  sins,  and  will  save  me  too.  I 
do  not  care  who  laughs  at  me  for  praying  and  asking  God  for  help. 
There  is  nothing  that  can  ever  make  me  quit  praying  and  believing 
in  God,  for  He  has  done  me  good  already. 

With  love  and  best  wishes,  and  hoping  to  hear  from  you  soon, 

Yours  sincerely,  F  .  A. 


Canon  City,  Colo.,  May  3,  1904. 
Dear  Mrs.  Wheaton. 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  answer  your  most  kind  and  welcome  let- 
ter that  brother  A.  and  I  received  some  time  ago.  We  also  received 
a  postal  card  this  morning.  I  have  neglected  my  promise  of  writing, 
but  hereafter  will  write  more  promptly.  I  have  not  been  feeling  well, 
but  am  better  now.  I  nope  you  will  forgive  me  this  time. 

It  does  my  heart  good  to  know  that  you  are  praying  for  us.  1 
feel  very  grateful  to  you.  Us  boys  pray  and  read  the  Holy  Bible 


284  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

every  day.  I  am  trusting  to  our  Heavenly  Father,  for  He  makes 
right  the  wrong.  We  are  being  treated  most  kindly  by  the  warden 
and  the  officers  of  the  prison. 

I  will  close,  as  Brother  A.  wishes  to  say  a  few  words. 

Hoping  to  hear  from  you  again,  I  ever  remain 

Your  son  in  Christ,  C. 


Canon  City,  Colo.,  May  17,  1904. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton. 

My  Dear  Mother:  I  received  your  kind  letter  and  was  very  much 
pleased  to  hear  from  you,  as  all  of  us  were.  *  *  * 

When  I  saw  and  read  your  letter  and  those  little  tracts,  they  cer- 
tainly did  take  effect  on  me.  As  I  read  them  and  saw  the  terrible 
mistake  I  had  made,  it  caused  the  tears  to  fall.  I  am  trusting  in 
God,  but  I  can't  come  right  out  and  tell  you  that  I  am  really  saved, 
for  I  don't  believe  in  deceiving  you.  But  I  do  believe  that  God  has 
laid  a  hand  on  me,  and  I  hope  He  will  take  a  stronger  hold  on  me. 
I  know  you  will  think  more  of  me  for  telling  you  the  candid  facts. 
I  have  seen  lots  of  people  who  would  tell  that  they  were  really  saved, 
when  they  knew  they  were  not.  But  "God  help  my  poor  soul,"  is 
my  regular  prayer.  I  realize  that  I  need  His  help  in  my  present 
circumstances.  I  still  ask  you  to  pray  for  me  that  God  will  help  me 
to  look  to  Him.  I  try  my  best  to  do  what  is  right,  and  never  go  to 
sleep  a  night  without  praying  to  Him  to  save  my  soul  and  spare  me 
so  that  I  may  be  of  some  benefit  to  His  cause,  and  I  do  fully  believe 
that  He  will  answer  my  prayer,  for  when  I  pray  I  am  sure  I  do  it 
with  all  my  heart  and  soul. 

I  am  quite  well  at  present,  and  hope  that  these  few  lines  will  find 
you  the  same.  May  God  bless  you  and  protect  you,  is  my  daily 
prayer.  I  hope  to  hear  from  you  again  soon. 

From  one  of  yours,  and  I  hope,  the  Lord's  sons. 

Yours  respectfully,  N.  A. 


Canon  City,  Colo.,  May  27,  1904. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

I  take  pleasure  in  answering  your  most  kind  and  welcome  letter 
received  a  few  days  ago.  I  am  quite  well  at  present.  I  am  taking 
things  as  easy  as  I  can  and  waiting  most  patiently  to  know  how 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  285 

I  will  fare.  I  haven't  forgot  to  pray  and  read  the  Bible,  nor  will 
I  as  long  as  I  live.  I  am  trusting  in  the  Lord,  for  He  makes  all 
things  right.  I  will  close,  hoping  to  hear  from  you  again. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

C.  P. 


Canon  City,  Colo.,  May  27,  1904. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

I  take  pleasure  in  answering  your  letter.  You  don't  know 
how  glad  I  was  to  hear  from  you.  This  leaves  me  well  and  in 
good  faith  and  I  am  trusting  in  the  Lord,  for  I  know  He  will 
help  me  if  I  will  only  be  good  and  do  His  will.  I  pray  and  read 
my  Bible  every  night  and  day.  Oh,  if  I  ever  do  get  my  freedom 
I  will  make  a  man  of  myself  and  do  God's  will  and  make  my 
poor  wife  and  mother  and  father  happy.  I  will  never  take  a  drop 
of  whiskey  or  anything  again.  So  good-bye.  We  have  heard 
nothing  of  our  case  yet.  The  time  seems  so  long. 

From  yours  sincerely, 

F.   A. 

The  following  are  extracts  from  touching  letters  from 
the  aged  mother  and  young  wife  of  this  young  man : 

Kansas  City,  Mo.,  July  4,  1904. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

We  received  your  card  and  were  indeed  glad  to  hear  from  you. 
Oh,  I  am  praying  to  God  all  the  time  to  spare  my  baby's  life. 
How  can  I  ever  live  if  they  take  his  life!  Why  do  they  want  it? 
He  did  not  kill  any  one,  although  the  deed  he  did  almost  breaks 
my  heart.  F.  never  drank  until  he  got  with  those  people  on 
Market  Street.  They  got  him  to  smoking  hop  and  drinking 
whiskey.  My  dear  and  only  child,  will  God  and  man  have  mercy 
on  him?  Oh,  I  thank  you  for  going  to  see  my  poor  baby  boy! 
God  bless  him  and  save  his  life. 

I  hope  you  can  see  the  Governor  and  see  if  he  will  do  something 
for  a  mother  to  save  her  only  child.  I  can  hardly  stand  it.  It 
has  done  F.  so  much  good  for  you  to  see  him.  He  always  speaks 
of  you  when  he  writes  home.  Oh,  I  do  hope  the  Governor  will 
give  you  some  hopes,  for  if  I  could  get  any  hopes  of  F.  being 


286  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

•pared  it  would  do  me  so  much  good!  I  pray  day  and  night  for  my 
boy.  He  is  on  my  mind  all  the  time.  Hoping  to  hear  from  you 
soon,  I  am  Sincerely  yours,  MRS.  A. 


Kansas  City,  Mo.,  July  4,  1904. 
Mrs.  E.  E.  Wheaton: 

Kind  Friend:  I  was  truly  glad  to  hear  from  you  and  that  you 
are  going  to  see  my  dear  husband  soon.  1  hope  it  will  not  be 
long  till  I  see  him,  for  it  seems  like  years  since  I  have  seen  poor 
F.  I  hope  my  loved  one  will  «ome  out  better  yet,  for  I  can  never 
stand  it.  I  hope  and  pray  tkat  F.  will  have  a  show  for  his  life. 
How  short  our  young  lives  were  together.  F.  was  always  kind  to 
me  and  it  almost  took  my  life  when  I  was  robbed  of  my  darling 
husband.  I  was  an  orphan  girl.  My  dear  mother  died  when  I  was 
five  years  old.  I  had  a  hard  time  all  my  life  till  I  was  eighteen, 
when  I  was  married  to  F.,  last  September.  I  was  so  happy  with 
him.  He  was  a  good  boy  and  never  drank  till  be  met  with  the 
Market  Street  gang  and  they  got  him  to  drinking  and  snicking 
that  hop. 

This  is  the  Fourth  of  July  and  F.  's  gray-haired  mother  and  I 
are  here  grieving  over  the  loved  one  in  prison.  If  a  wife  ever 
loved  a  husband  truly  I  love  mine.  I  remain  your  friend, 

MRS.  F.  A. 


Canon  City,  Colo.,  Sept.  22,  1904. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

I  was  giad  to  hear  from  you,  which  I  always  am,  for  your  let- 
ters are  full  of  kind  words  and  it  is  a  pleasure  to  read  them  in 
my  lonely  cell  and  know  there  is  one  true  friend  who  prays  for 
me.  Kind  words  are  few  for  me  now  when  I  am  in  need  and 
going  through  the  most  terrible  and  trying  time  of  a  lifetime. 
But  I  am  living  in  hopes  and  trusting  God  for  my  future,  come 
what  may.  I  surely  thank  you  for  seeing  the  Governor  in  our 
behalf. 

My  mother  and  wife  are  well.  Their  letter  to  you  must  have 
been  missent,  for  they  wrote.  This  leaves  me  well. 

Yours  sincerely, 

F.  A. 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  287 

Canon  City,  Colo.,  March  26,  1905. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton: 

Dear  Mother:     I  was  very  glad  to  hear  from  you  as  I  did  not 
know  what  had  become  of,  you.     Well,  the  law  has  been  found 

good  and  the  death  watch  is  over  us.     Poor  was  hung  the 

6th.  Our  time  begins  the  21st  of  May.  Yes,  I  am  trusting  God 
and  I  know  He  has  heard  my  prayers,  and  whatever  comes  will 
be  for  the  best.  P —  -  is  getting  better  again  they  tell  me. 

A is  the  same  as  ever.    I  wrote  to  my  mother  today  and  told 

her  I  heard  from  you. 

Yours  sincerely 

F.  A. 


Canon  City,  Colo.,  April  12,  1905. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton,  Los  Angeles,  Cal.: 

Dear  Mother  Wheaton:  I  was  glad  to  hear  from  you.  Your 
letters  do  me  so  much  good,  they  always  give  me  new  hope.  Of 
course  you  understand  what  I  am  going  through,  and  at  times 
hope  seems  hopeless  for  the  time  seems  so  long  to  me  in  this 
dreary  cell,  and  to  think  if  I  had  left  that  horrible  liquor  alone 
and  stayed  away  from  bad  company  where  I  could  have  been  .to- 
night— free  and  happy,  at  home  with  my  wife  and  my  poor  old 
mother  and  father.  But  as  it  is  I  am  sad  and  lonely  and  my 
loved  ones  are  far  away,  heart-broken.  But  I  believe  my  prayers 
will  be  answered  yet,  for  I  know  God  has  heard  them.  But, 
the  Lord's  will  be  done.  I  know  He  will  do  what  is  best  for  me. 

Well,  dear  mother,  the  boys  are  well  and  send  their  best  regards. 

Sincerely  yours, 

F.  A. 


Canon  City,  Colo.,  June  15,  1905. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

I  received  your  kind  and  welcome  letter  and  was  glad  to  hear 
from  you  again.  I  will  never  have  the  pleasure  of  reading  an- 
other letter  from  you  in  this  world,  for  I  have  been  put  back 
in  a  horrible  death  cell  again  and  the  Board  of  Pardons  and  Gov- 
ernor have  refused  to  save  me  from  the  terrible  death  I  am 
doomed  for,  but  I  expect  to  meet  you  in  heaven,  dear  mother, 


288  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

for  I  know  God  has  forgiven  me  all  of  my  sins.  I  want  to  thank 
you  again  for  all  you  have  done  for  me,  for  I  know  you  have 
spent  many  a  sleepless  night  on  account  of.  me.  I  felt  a  great 
deal  better  after  seeing  and  praying  with  you  the  last  time  you 
were  here  than  I  had  since  I've  been  in  this  trouble.  I  am  glad 
things  are  most  at  an  end  for  I  am  very  weary  of  these  lonesome 
death  cells.  Of  course  I  don't  want  to  die  nor  am  1  glad  of  it, 
for  I  have  lots  to  live  for  yet  as  you  know,  but  the  Lord 's  will  be 
done.  I  know  it  will  be  for  the  best.  Well,  1  will  close  for  this 
time.  I  am  to  be  hung  in  the  next  twenty-four  hours,  so  good-bye, 
dear  friend.  Think  of  me  sometime  in  the  future. 

From  your  son  in  Christ, 

F.  A. 


Mother  Wheaton: 

Dear  Mother:  We  just  received  your  loving  letter  last  night 
and  was  glad  to  hear  from  you.  Oh,  dear  mother,  my  darling 
boy  is  gone;  never  can  I  see  his  loving  face  in  this  cruel  world. 
Oh,  it  is  terrible;  it  seems  too  hard  for  me  to  stand.  Just  think, 
my  only  darling  child.  But  I  know  he  is  in  heaven.  He  died  on 
the  16th.  We  wrent  to  see  him  and  he  was  so  glad  to  see  us.  He 
kissed  his  papa  and  all  of  us  and  said  he  wanted  us  not  to  grieve 
any  more  than  we  could  help.  .  .  .  His  last  words  were 
"Good-bye,  mamma,"  with  a  smile  and  wave  of  his  hand  just 
like  I  was  coming  back  again.  He  said  he  would  like  to  be 
buried  close  to  home.  Poor,  darling  boy;  he  loved  to  be  close  to 
home  and  mamma  in  life,  but  it  is  hard  to  think  that  he  had  to 
spend  his  last  days  away  from  us,  all  on  account  of  whiskey. 

Your  friends  as  ever, 

MRS.  A.  AND  L. 
(The  above  was  from  the  aged  mother  and  the  young  wife.) 

Think  you,  dear  reader,  that  these  experiences  are  passed 
by  lightly  when  I  must  enter  into  the  sorrows  of  these 
mothers  and  loved  ones  who  must  give  up  their  dear  ones 
in  this  way?  Only  the  grace  and  love  of  God  can  sustain 
me  and  these  dear  bereaved  ones  in  these  trials.  This  was 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  289 

one  of  my  saddest  experiences,  as  I  was  personally  ac- 
quainted with  the  parents  and  the  dear  young  wife  of  one 
of  these  young  men,  having  been  entertained  at  their  home 
some  days  at  a  time  during  their  sorrow.  This  is  only  an- 
other example  of  what  strong  drink  is  doing  in  our  land. 
God  pity  those  who  in  the  least  favor  this  traffic. 

I  give  below  short  extracts  taken  from  The  Daily  News 
of  Denver  concerning  these  cases : 

"Not  yet  has  the  final  word  for  F.  A.,  C.  P.  and  N.  A.,  under 
sentence  of  death,  been  said. 

"It  is  likely  that  it  will  not  be  said  for  at  least  a  week  or  ten 
days.  The  Board  of  Pardons  adjourned  late  yesterday  afternoon 
without  deciding  the  fate  of  the  three  boys.  .  .  . 

"But,  though  the  tragic  element  was  lacking,  there  was  present 
throughout  the  meeting  an  undercurrent  of  deep  human  woe. 
The  mother  of  A.  was  there,  clad  in  black,  with  a  hopeless  expres- 
sion on  her  face  pitiful  to  see.  Beside  her  at  all  times  was  the 
wife  of  A.,  young,  pretty  in  an  indefinite  sort  of  way,  her  blue 
eyes  holding  ever  before  them  the  wreck  of  her  shattered  girlish 
romance.  Both  women  wept  freely  at  times. 

"With  the  two  women  were  a  dozen  of  their  women  friends, 
whose  coming  had  been  actuated  by  a  mixture  of  curiosity  and 
sympathy. 

FRIEND  OF  ALL   PRISONERS. 

* '  Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton,  friend  of  prisoners  the  world  over, 
was  there  too.  She  sat  next  Mrs.  A.,  the  elder,  and  wept  copiously 
in  sympathy.  "Mother"  Wheaton  visited  the  boys  at  Canon 
City,  and  she  told  the  board  the  impression  of  her  visit,  how, 
she  was  sure,  they  had  repented  of  their  deed  and  had  their  sins 
forgiven. 

"She  also  pleaded  for  their  lives  on  the  ground  of  opposition 
to  capital  punishment.  She  has  been  in  state  prison  rescue  work 
for  twenty-one  years,  and  her  silver  hair,  refined  face  and  gentle 
manner  have  brought  comfort  to  criminals  everywhere. ' ' — News, 
May  6. 

SESSION  OF  THE  BOARD. 

The  Board  of  Pardons  met  in  special  session  at  10  o  'clock  yester- 


2QO  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

day  morning  for  the  purpose  of  passing  finally  upon  the  applications 
of  the  three  boys  for  commutation  of  sentence  from  death  to  im- 
prisonment for  life. 

Interest  in  the  proceedings  of  the  morning  centered  around  four 
women,  two  mothers,  a  sister  and  a  wife  of  the  condemned  boys. 
They  were  Mrs.  J.  A.,  bowed  with  the  weight  of  her  seventy 
years,  who  had  come  all  the  way  from  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  to  be  pres- 
ent at  the  meeting;  her  daughter,  Miss  A.,  of  Denver;  Mrs.  J.  A. 
and  Mrs.  F.  A.,  mother  and  wife,  respectively,  of  F.  A.  All  four 
were  present  throughout  the  hearing  and  made  personal  pleas  to 
the  Board. 

After  the  hearing  was  concluded  they  went  together  into  the 
outer  office  of  the  executive  chamber  and  sat  huddled  up  in  one 
corner  of  the  big  room,  their  eyes  fixed  on  the  door  which  led  to 
the  inner  office  where  four  men  were  deciding  whether  the  boys 
they  loved  should  live  or  die. 

HEARD   THE  BAD   NEWS. 

When  the  news  of  the  Board's  action  was  conveyed  by  Secre- 
tary C.  E.  Hagar  to  the  four  women  waiting  in  the  outer  office, 
their  grief  was  pitiful  in  the  extreme.  Mrs.  A.  very  nearly  col- 
lapsed. She  clung  to  the  arm  of  her  daughter  and  moaned  in  heart- 
breaking accents.  The  daughter,  too,  was  almost  overcome,  but 
controlled  herself  for  her  mother's  sake. 

The  mother  and  wife  of  F.  A.,  while  it  was  evident  they  were 
suffering  keenly,  maintained  an  outward  composure  except  for  the 
tears  which  welled  from  their  eyes.  They  hurriedly  left  the  oapitol 
building  together.  The  young  wife  will  go  to  the  penitentiary 
Friday  to  say  a  last  good-bye  to  her  husband. 

PLEA  OF   ATTORNEY. 

W.  E.,  attorney  for  A.,  made  a  wonderfully  eloquent  plea  for  his 
client's  life.  It  was  logical,  pathetic  and  at  times  scathing  in  its 
denunciation  of  the  methods  used  by  the  police  to  extort  confes- 
sions from  the  boys.  He  said  these  methods,  in  their  horrible  bru- 
tality, were  without  parallel  anywhere. 

"The  only  evidence  upon  which  N.  A.  was  convicted,"  he  said, 
"was  the  alleged  confession  wrung  out  of  him  by  police  brutality. 
This  confession  was  made  after  the  prisoner  had  been  ' sweated' 
and  intimidated.  One  ear  had  been  almost  torn  off,  he  had  been 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  291 

* 

cuffed,  kicked  and  trampled  upon,  and  then,  under  the  influence  of 
threats,  he  made  his  alleged  confession. ' ' 

NEWS  THAT  SON   IS  TO   HANG  BROKEN  TO  AGED  WOMAN  BY  HER  DAUGH- 
TER  AND    CAUSES   COLLAPSE. 

Sitting  and  staring  with  a  blank  look  into  space,  at  intervals 
relieving  the  tension  of  her  misery  by  low  moans,  and  then  again 
ejaculating  pitifully,  "Oh,  my  boy!  My  poor,  poor  boy!  Can  I 
live  and  know  that  you  died  upon  the  gallows?"  Mrs.  J.  A.  is 
now  hovering  on  the  borderland  of  life  at  the  home  of  her  daughter 
in  Denver. 

It  was  not  until  noon  yesterday  that  Mrs.  A.  was  told  that  the 
pardons  board  had  refused  to  grant  her  son,  N.  A.,  a  commutation 
of  sentence  from  death  to  life  imprisonment.  (Jp  to  that  mo- 
ment when  the  terrible  knowledge  became  hers  she  had  a  mother's 
hope  that  the  pardons  board  must  save  her  boy.  From  the  mo- 
ment she  heard  from  her  daughter's  lips  that  the  son  and  brother 
must  die,  Mrs.  A.  has  been  verging  upon  a  semi-comatose  condi- 
tion, and  under  the  constant  care  of  a  physician. 

She  was  illy  prepared  to  hear  the  news  yesterday,  for  she  had 
spent  the  night  previous  without  closing  her  eyes  in  sleep.  It 
was  not  until  5  o'clock  that  slumber  came  to  her  mercifully,  and 
even  then  she  merely  slept  in  a  fitful  doze  until  8  o'clock. 

SUPPRESSED  EMOTION. 

The  serious  phase  of  Mrs.  A.  '-a  condition,  her  physician  regards, 
is  that  with  her  it  is  all  suppressed  emotion.  She  does  not  cry 
out  or  rave,  but  endures  her  intense  suffering  in  quiet.  It  is  but 
seldom  that  tears  come  to  her  relief,  and  the  only  vent  her  emo- 
tion has  is  in  her  low  moans  for  her  "poor  boy." 

After  the  news  was  broken  to  her,  Mrs.  A.  spent  most  of  the  day 
in  bed.  Late  last  night  she  was  still  in  the  same  condition,  and 
the  gravest  anxiety  is  felt  by  her  relatives. 

Mrs.  A.  is  70  years  old.  She  lives  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  made 
the  long  trip  of  1,500  miles  to  personally  plead  with  the  State 
Board  of  Pardons  for  the  life  of  her  son. 

TO  TEST  GALLOWS. 

Warden  C.  will  today  test  the  automatic  scaffold  upon  which 
N.  A.  and  F.  A.  will  be  executed  next  week.  He  will  see  that 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

• 

everything  about  the  device  is  in  perfect  order  and  will  make  a 
final  test  just  prior  to  taking  the  first  of  the  two  to  his  death. 
The  execution  house,  where  the  men  will  be  confined  until  the  final 
summons,  is  28x30  feet.  It  contains  three  condemned  cells  and 
across  the  hall  from  these  are  two  large  rooms.  In  the  center  of 
one  is  a  large  iron  plate  and  on  this  the  condemned  is  asked  to 
stand  after  the  noose  and  cap  have  been  adjusted.  The  weight  of 
the  man  causes  the  plate  to  drop  about  an  inch.  This  closes  the 
circuit  of  a  current  connecting  with  a  bucket  of  water  which 
stands  on  a  shelf  in  a  closet  in  an  adjoining  room.  By  a  magnet 
arrangement  a  plug  in  the  bottom  of  the  bucket  is  pulled  and  the 
water  begins  to  flow  out.  As  soon  as  the  vessel  is  empty  an  auto- 
matic connection  releases  a  catch  holding  a  bag  of  sand  on  the 
end  of  the  noose. 

The  sand,  being  heavier  than  the  man,  falls,  causing  the  body 
at  the  other  extremity  of  the  rope  to  be  jerked  off  the  floor  to  the 
height  of  three  feet.  The  sandbag  is  in  the  room  containing  the 
closet  where  the  bucket  is  and  the  rope  from  the  noose  reaches 
that  room  over  a  pulley  and  through  a  hole  in  the  wall. 

The  condemned  man  does  not  see  any  of  the  details  of  the  exe- 
cution when  he  enters  the  death  cell.  The  iron  plate  in  the  floor 
and  the  noose  around  his  neck  are  the  only  parts  he  can  see.  He 
does  not  hear  the  dropping  of  the  water  nor  the  working  of  any 
of  the  mechanism. 

The  instant  the  man  is  jerke.'i  off  his  feet  and  suspended  at  the 
end  of  the  rope  his  neck  is  broken.  The  time  intervening  between 
the  pulling  of  the  plug  in  the  bucket  and  the  falling  of  the  sand  is 
usually  about  a  minute.  The  suspense  to  the  prisoner,  however,  is 
not  regarded  as  any  more  cruel  than  that  experienced  by  a  man 
in  the  electrical  chair  or  on  the  scaffold  while  he  awaits  the  fatai 
current  or  the  springing  of  the  trap. 

The  hanging  apparatus  was  invented  by  a  convict  fifteen  yeare 
ago. — 'News,  May  20. 

As  shown  by  foregoing  letters  these  cases  were  continued 
till  June  16.  Such  is  the  suspense,  sorrow  of  heart  and 
gnef  through  which  many  are  constantly  passing  in  this 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  2Q3 

world,  all  on  account  of  sin.  What  are  we  trying  to  do  to 
lend  a  hand  of  relief? 

Such,  dear  reader,  are  a  few  of  the  many,  many  cases  of 
this  class  with  which  I  have  had  to  do  in  these  more  than 
twenty  years  of  ministry  to  those  that  are  bound.  Some 
were  hardened  criminals,  others  innocent  of  the  crime  for 
which  they  were  condemned  and  others  no  more  guilty  than 
thousands  that  the  world  honors.  For  all,  Christ  died ;  and 
many  others  beside  these  I  have  mentioned  have  given 
evidence  of  saving  faith  in  the  blood  that  is  able  to  cleanse 
the  deepest  stain  that  sin  has  made. 

One  case  is  just  as  near  and  dear  to  my  mother  heart  as 
another  and  yet  how  different  in  many  respects  are  these 
condemned  men — different  in  their  natural  inclinations  and 
unlike  because  of  their  different  circumstances  in  life. 
Among  them  are  found  the  refined,  the  educated,  the  gifted, 
the  beautiful  as  well  as  the  low,  the  ignorant,  the  degraded. 
All  must  share  the  same  fate.  All  are  shown  in  the  worst 
possible  light  to  a  gaping,  sensation-loving,  curious  world. 
Let  us,  dear  reader,  take  these  cases  home  to  our  hearts  as  if 
they  were  our  very  own  and  so  learn  to  have  that  charity 
that  suffereth  long  and  is  kind.  Even  Moses  and  David  took 
life,  yet  they  were  forgiven,  and  Moses  who  in  haste  slew 
the  Egyptian,  became  the  prophet  so  wonderfully  used  of 
God  because  of  his  meekness  of  spirit;  and  David  in  his 
thankfulness  declared,  "This  poor  man  cried  and  the  Lord 
heard  him  and  delivered  him  out  of  all  his  troubles." 


CHAPTER  XV. 
Work  in  Churches  and  Missions. 

As  stated  in  preface  I  have  always  as  opportunity  offered 
been  ready  to  preach  the  gospel  to  all  men.  In  this  chapter 
I  speak  very  briefly  of  some  of  the  work  done  in  churches 
and  missions  and  give  some  letters  from  pastors  and  friends 
referring  to  this  part  of  my  labors. 

STRANGELY    LED. 

I  once  had  a  young  sister  with  me  whom  I  had  taken 
from  Toronto,  Canada.  I  had  told  her  mother  I  would  re- 
turn her  safely  and  had  given  her  money  to  pay  her  fare 
home.  As  we  returned  through  a  field  to  the  city  from  the 
poor  farm  where  I  had  held  a  service,  I  said  to  the  sister, 
"I  am  so  hungry."  She  replied,  "O  wait  till  we  get  to 
heaven,  then  we  shall  have  of  the  twelve  manner  of  fruit, 
and  drink  of  the  water  of  life,"  and  I  was  cheered  and  blest 
as  I  went  along  the  way.  The  Lord  showed  me  to  trust 
Him.  When  I  reached  my  lodging-house  I  was  so  weak 
and  tired  that  I  sat  down  to  rest  a  few  moments  before 
ascending  the  stairs  to  my  room.  The  landlady  sat  by  her 
well-filled  table  after  the  boarders  were  all  gone.  She  asked 
the  servant  for  a  plate,  and  I  watched  her  while  she  cut  off 
a  nice  piece  of  turkey  and  a  piece  of  roast  beef  and  then  put 
some  bread  on  the  plate  and  handed  it  to  me.  I  was,  O,  so 
glad,  but  feared  she  was  going  to  ask  pay  for  it,  and  I  had 
only  a  dime.  I  asked,  "How  much  is  this?"  and  she  re- 
plied, "Nothing."  I  was  so  overcome  with  gratitude  to  God 
for  His  goodness  that  I  hastened  to  my  room  and  thanked 
God  for  answering  prayer,  in  giving  me  food  I  needed  to 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVI.  295 

give  me  strength  for  the  meeting  that  afternoon  on  the 
street,  and  in  the  evening  at  the  colored  people's  church.  At 
the  close  of  the  meeting  in  the  evening  the  preacher  said : 
"The  sister  has  given  us  a  good  sermon,  and  the  gospel  must 
be  carried,  so  come  up  and  give  us  a  good  collection."  The 
people  responded  heartily  and  gave  a  very  liberal  collection, 
but  after  the  meeting  the  preacher  handed,  me  25  cents, 
keeping  the  rest.  I  felt  very  badly  as  I  had  prayed  for 
money  which  I  needed  so  much.  1  must  go  to  another  city, 
and  no  money  for  traveling  expenses.  I  had  been  obliged 
to  have  some  work  done  by  .the  dentist  which  must  be  paid, 
and  no  money,  but  I  kept  believing,  yet  no  open  heart  or 
door.  I  wondered  why  I  was  led  to  go  to  another  place 
with  no  means  provided.  When  I  had  gotten  the  amount 
needed  I  left,  heart-sick,  lonely  and  weary  to  go  on  alone 
in  the  work,  and  the  sister  to  go  home  to  Canada.  A  few 
days  later  I  was  walking  along  the  streets  of  Lynchburg, 

Va.     I  met  a  man  who  said,  "I  am  Rev.  B  — • from 

Chicago.  I  have  met  you  several  times  in  your  work,  Sister 
Wheaton,  won't  you  come  with  me  to  church?"  I  said, 
"Where?"  and  he  said,  'To  the  First  Baptist  church. ' 

When  we  entered  the  beautiful  new  church  building  the 
evangelist  introduced  me  to  the  young  pastor,  who  hurried 
by  indifferently.  He  then  presented  me  to  some  fine  looking 
ladies  who  also  passed  by  on  the  other  side.  When  the  evan- 
gelist had  closed  his  sermon  he  said,  "Now,  friends,  this  is 
the  lady  I  told  you  about  who  has  done  more  good  than  we 
preachers.  I  know  her,  but  she  don't  know  me.  Receive 
her  as  a  sister.  She  is  worthy."  When  the  service  closed, 
one  after  another  came  to  speak  to  me  and  gave  me  their 
hand  and  invited  me  to  their  homes.  A  gentleman  and 
wife  came  up  and  said,  "We  claim  you  as  our  guest."  The 


20,6  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

husband  said,  'The  carriage  is  at  the  door.  I  will  walk  and 
you  may  ride  with  my  wife."  I  was  at  a  loss  to  know  just 
which  invitation  to  accept,  when  the  evangelist  came  up 
and  said,  "These  are  the  people  for  you  to  go  with."  I  did 
so  and  the  Lord  went  with  me.  I  was  invited  to  preach  that 
night  and  the  Lord  was  there  in  mighty  convicting  power. 
At  the  close  of  the  meeting  the  evangelist  said,  "Sister,  how 
did  it  happen  that  I  met  you  just  as  I  did  this  morning?" 
I  said,  "Brother  B.,  things  don't  happen  with  me.  The 
Lord  sent  me  to  this  place." 

The  next  day  a  young  lady  called  at  the  house  and  in- 
quired for  me.  I  went  to  the  door  and  she  handed  me  a 
small  parcel  saying,  "Your  friends  from  the  First  Baptist 
church  sent  you  this."  Thanking  her  I  went  inside  and 
found  it  was  fifteen  dollars. 

I  was  the  guest  of  one  of  the  F.  F.  V.'s,  so  was  welcomed 
everywhere.  Other  churches  and  other  preachers  invited  me 
to  their  pulpits.  In  a  few  days  Mrs.  Col.  O.  asked  me  if  I 
would  conduct  a  meeting  for  women  only  at  the  M.  E. 
church  if  she  would  arrange  for  it.  I  was  impressed  that 
the  thought  was  of  God  and  agreed  to  do  so.  The  meeting 
was  appointed  for  Wednesday  at  4  p.  m.  On  the  way  to 
the  church  I  was  so  burdened  with  the  responsibility  of  the 
meeting  that  I  told  the  sister  (the  kind  friend  who  enter- 
tained me)  that  I  could  not  talk,  I  must  pray  the  rest  of  the 
way  to  church.  To  my  surprise  the  place  became  crowded. 
I  had  expected  perhaps  a  dozen  women  and  no  men ;  and 
here  the  place  was  full  of  elegantly  dressed  ladies,  and  the 
pastor  of  the  church,  Brother  H.,  and  a  policeman  were  also 
present.  I  tried  to  proceed  with  the  service,  but  seemed 
unable  to  do  so.  After  prayer  and  singing,  "How  firm  a 
foundation,"  I  arose  and  said :  "Is  any  one  led  of  the  Spirit 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE 

to  give  me  a  text.  I  have  no  message.  A  sister  arose  and 
timidly  said,  "The  I4th  chapter  of  John."  Well,  the  flood 
gates  of  Heaven  were  opened  to  my  soul.  God  spoke  and 
waves  of  salvation  rolled  over  the  church,  and  women,  God 
bless  them  !  arose  and  said,  "I  thought  I  was  a  Christian  until 
t&day,  but  I  find  I  have  never  begun  to  serve  the  Lord  yet. 
I  promise,  by  God's  help,  to  begin  anew  today  for  Heaven." 
The  dear  Lord  touched  proud  hearts  and  melted  them  to- 
gether until  the  place  was  filled  with  the  glory  of  God.  The 
pastor  and  people  asked  me  to  hold  another  meeting  the  fol- 
lowing day  for  both  men  and  women.  I  said  I  would  do  so 
in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  the  Lord  wonderfully  blessed 
the  services.  Souls  were  brought  in  touch  with  God  and 
saved.  I  said  to  them,  "Friends,  begin  a  revival  at  once. 
Cod  is  ready  to  work  with  you  if  you  follow  Him.  My 
services  are  ended  in  this  church.  The  prisoners,  my  special 
care,  need  me,  and  the  poor  and  the  colored  people."  I  re- 
mained three  weeks  in  that' city,  wonderfully  blessed  of  God. 
When  I  left  there  were  over  fifty  dollars  in  my  hand,  of  free 
will  ofTerings.  I  see  why  the  Lord  sent  me  to  the  city  to 
arouse  the  sleeping  church  members  and  preachers,  both 
white  and  colored,  from  their  cold,  lifeless  spiritual  condi- 
tion. 

Soon  after  leaving  Lynchburg  I  received  the  following 
letter  from  the  sister  who  planned  the  meeting,  which  greatly 
encouraged  me : 

Lynchburg,  May  2,  1887. 
My  Dear  Sister: 

1  received  your  letter  several  days  since.  I  am  truly  rejoiced  to 
know  that  you  receive  that  peace  and  comfort  which  a  child  of 
God  knows  to  be  her  portion. 

My  thoughts  have  followed  you  since  your  departure  from  our 
city  and  prayers  from  many  hearts  have  ascended  to  the  throne 


298  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

for  your  safety  and  success  in  the  great  work  God  has  called  you 
to  do. 

I  have  not  known  of  a  revival  such  as  is  now  in  progress  at  Dr. 
Hannon's  church.  Men  and  women  are  flocking  to  the  meetings, 
old  and  young,  to  know  what  they  must  do  to  be  saved.  My  son 
was  happily  converted  last  Friday  night.  He  had  long  been  cold 
and  indifferent,  but  now  all  is  joy  and  he  works  and  speaks  %r 
God  with  willingness.  He  is  in  solemn  earnest  now  in  working, 
praying  and  speaking  in  the  great  congregation.  Surely  goodness 
and  mercy  have  followed  me  all  the  days  of  my  life  and  I  will 
dwell  at  the  feet  of  my  Master  forever. 

Though  God  has  sent  tears  to  my  eyes  and  grief  to  my  heart, 
thanks  to  His  dear  name  He  has  kept  me  from  falling.  I  think 
you  left  a  good  influence  among  the  fallen  women  here.  I  have 
been  sent  for  to  go  to  some  since  you  left.  I  have  sent  this  day 
a  request  to  the  official  board  of  my  church  to  give  me  the  use 
of  one  room  in  the  church  where  I  can  always  meet  them  for  the 
purpose  of  hearing  of  their  desires  to  lead  a  new  life.  In  this  way 
my  pastor  can  meet  them  and  help  me  in  this  work.  I  await  the 
result.  Your  friend  with  sincere  love  and  prayers, 

MRS.  LUCY  K.  O. 

• 

I  went  on  my  way,  and  some  time  after  was  in  San 
Francisco,  California.  Hearing  one  day,  as  I  left  the  jail, 
of  a  holiness  convention,  I  was  impressed  to  attend.  When 
I  arrived  a  testimony  meeting  was  in  progress.  I  arose 
and  began  to  sing,  ''Yes,  I  will  stand  up  fc>r  Jesus,"  and 
the  minister  in  charge  came  down  the  aisle  to  me  and  said : 
"Is  this  Sister  Wheaton  who  held  meetings  in  my  church 
in  L- ,  Va.  ?"  I  said,  "My  name  is  Elizabeth  Whea- 
ton, and  I  held  meetings  in  that  city.  Are  you  Dr.  H.  ?" 
and  he  said,  "Yes."  He  returned  to  the  platform  and  told 
the  people  of  my  work  in  his  church  and  that  about  four 
hundred  had  been  saved,  and  told  the  people  to  receive  me 
as  a  child  of  God.  So  homes  were  opened.  The  work  of 
God  moved  on.  As  I  was  a  stranger  in  a  strange  city,  I 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  299 

blessed  God  for  the  leadings  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  all  my 
pilgrim  way.  I  have  not  seen  Dr.  H.  since  that  time.  He 
gave  me  a  pressing  invitation  to  his  church  in  San  Fran- 
cisco but  work  on  other  lines  prevented  my  acceptance. 

LETTERS   FROM   OTHER   FRIENDS. 

Wetumpka,  Ala.,  Jan.  12,  1885. 
My  Dear  Sister: 

Jt  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  express  in  words  the  Chris- 
tian sympathy  and  love  I  have  for  you — one  that  has  left  all; 
yes,  all — denying  yourself  and  taking  up  the  cross  of  Jesus,  carry- 
ing the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  the  despised,  to  the  outcast, 
to  the  poor  in  spirit  and  to  the  oppressed.  I  pray  daily  that  the 
good  Lord  may  bless  you. 

Dear  sister,  those  in  the  world  whose  minds  are  carnal,  cannot 
understand  your  work,  for  your  life  is  hidden  in  God,  and  cannot 
be  discerned  in  any  other  way  but  by  the  Spirit.  Our  crosses  will 
soon  be  over.  Jesus  will  not  let  us  suffer  for  Him  long.  He  is 
coming  for  us  soon.  Then  ' '  Be  not  weary  in  well-doing,  for  in 
due  season  we  shall  reap,  if  we  faint  not."  We  are  not  the 
only  friends  you  have  in  Wetumpka.  Long  will  you  live  in  our 
memory.  I  pray  that  the  Lord  may  ever  guide  and  lead  you  as 
He  knows  and  sees  best.  I  am  your  brother  in  Christ, 

A.  J.  ROGERS,  Pastor. 


Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  Sept.  2,  1897. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

We  were  so  glad  to  hear  from  you.  Our  meeting  closed  on 
Sunday  evening,  August  22,  with  twenty-eight  persons  asking  the 
prayers  of  the  church.  We  are  beginning  special  services  three 
evenings  in  the  week. 

We  are  planning  to  begin  another  revival  meeting  about  the 
middle  of  October.  Would  be  glad  to  have  you  with  us.  We  are 
praying  that  the  dear  Lord  may  so  order  it  if  it  is  His  will.  The 
Lord  is  leading  and  we  are  expecting  great  things. 

Remember  us  kindly  to  Mrs.  H.  I  hope  you  will  write  again,  so 
that  we  may  be  posted  as  to  your  movements.  We  are  praying 


30O  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

for  you.  Do  not  forget  us.  Mrs.  Cooper  and  Merrill  wish 
to  be  remembered  to  you.  "The  Lord  bless  and  keep  thee  and 
cause  His  face  to  shine  upon  thee. ' '  Good-bye  for  a  little  while. 

Fraternally, 
M.  C.  COOPER,  Pastor  St.  Paul's  Church. 


Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  Sept.  29,  1897. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Sister  in  Christ:  Your  letter  received  and  I  must  say 
I  hold  it  very  sacred  and  dear. 

I  think  of  you  often,  and  not  only  I,  but  a  large  number  of 
others.  We  cannot  tell  the  good  you  did  while  here,  but  God 
above  knows  and  He  will  reward  you.  Many  have  been  more 
willing  to  do  their  Christian  duty.  They  seem  to  realize  more  fully 
what  it  means  to  be  a  Christian.  O  there  is  so  much  in  it! 

Dear  sister,  the  Lord  being  willing,  we  are  going  to  hold  another 
revival  campaign,  commencing  Sunday,  October  17.  I  am  so  anx- 
ious I  can  hardly  wait.  I  enjoy  myself  so  much  when  I  can  be 
doing  work  for  my  dear  Lord  and  Master,  who  did  so  much  for 
me.  I  wish  the  Lord  would  see  fit  to  send  you  this  way  during 
our  revival,  and  my  prayers  shall  be  to  that  end.  It  is  God's 
work  and  you  are  one  of  His  workers.  You  have  the  constant 
prayer  of  St.  Paul's  church,  and  we  are  sure  that  we  have  yours. 
May  God's  choicest  blessings  rest  upon  and  abide  with  you. 
"The  Lord  lift  up  His  countenance  upon  thee  and  give  thee 
peace."  LOUISE  Roux. 


(From  the  Gazette,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.) 

MRS.  WHEATON,  FAMOUS  PRISON  EVANGELIST,  "LED  BY  THE  LORD 
HERE" — HER  FAITH  IN  THIS  ABSOLUTE — OPENS  INTERVIEW 

WITH  PRAYER — LARGE  AUDIENCES  HEAR  HER. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton  is  in  town  and  last  night  and 
yesterday  afternoon  addressed  a  large  audience  at  the  revival 
services  which  Rev.  Mr.  Cooper,  of  St.  Paul's  M.  E.  church  is  con- 
ducting in  a  tent  situated  near  his  church,  on  Walton  avenue.  She 
reached  this  city  Saturday  evening  over  the  Pennsylvania.  Hav- 
ing missed  a  train  at  Warsaw  en  route  to  visit  a  sister  who  lives 
at  Elkhart,  she  was  directed,  she  said  by  the  Lord,  after  prayer, 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  301 

to  come  to  Fort  Wayne  to  spend  the  Sabbath.  On  the  way  over 
her  singing  and  praying  on  the  train  attracted  attention  to  her  and 
a  member  of  the  Wayne  Street  Methodist  Church,  on  learning 
who  she  was,  invited  her  and  her  sister,  Mrs.  Hoffman,  to  spend 
the  night  at  his  home.  She  had  heard,  she  said,  of  the  meetings 
that  Mr.  Cooper  is  conducting,  and  she  said,  with  a  manner  of 
absolute  confidence,  that  she  had  been  directed  to  attend  these 
meetings.  Eev.  Mr.  Cooper  said  yesterday  that  the  meeting  was 
in  progress  as  she  and  her  companion  entered  and  that  he  was 
impressed  to  speak  to  her.  On  learning  her  name  he  knew  her 
instantly  by  fame  as  the  widely  traveled  and  much  beloved  prison 
evangelist.  She  was  given  a  welcome  and  was  at  once  asked  to 
participate  in  the  services.  At  the  night  meeting  there  were  a 
thousand  people,  it  is  said,  who  listened  enrapt  to  her  prayers 
and  moving  appeals  to  the  sinner  to  accept  the  salvation  in  which 
she  so  thoroughly  believes. 

The  prisoners  at  the  jail  were  her  first  concern  Sunday  morn- 
ing. She  told  Mr.  Cooper  that  after  arising  she  turned  to  her 
Bible  for  guidance  and  her  eyes  fell  upon  certain  Scripture  which 
contained  the  word  prison  three  times.  She  took  this  as  evidence 
that  she  should  first  visit  the  jail  and  thither  she  went.  It  is 
quickly  apprehended  by  those  who  come  in  contact  with  her  that 
she  pauses  not  when  directed,  as  she  believes,  to  do  a  service  in  the 
cause  of  the  Master,  but  goes  at  once.  She  has  no  questionings  of 
faith. 

A  Gazette  reporter  found  her  last  night  at  the  home  of  Mr. 
Bower,  No.  136  Walton  avenue.  Her  physical  appearance  marks 
her  as  no  ordinary  person.  Her  face  beams  with  a  kindly  smile, 
being  plump  and  fresh  with  the  vigor  of  apparent  health,  though 
gray  hair  indicates  her  past  the  prime  of  life.  She  dresses  mod- 
estly in  black  and  carries  with  her  a  satchel  in  which  she  keeps 
;i  Testament,  her  pass  holder  and  some  tracts.  Her  handshake  is 
a  model  of  firmness  and  heartiness,  conveying  the  impress  of  in- 
tense earnestness.  Before  permitting  the  interviewer  to  proceed 
further  than  the  salutations,  Mrs.  Wheaton  kneeled  and  prayed 
for  the  Lord's  blessing  upon  the  interview.  This  unconventional 
prelude  was  novel  in  the  experience  of  the  reporter,  but  coming 
from  such  a  woman  seemed  perfectly  in  place.  There  is  reverence 


302  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

and  piety  proclaimed  by  her  presence  and  no  thought  of  incon- 
gruity obtruded.  The  prayer  took  the  range  of  ready  invocation 
and  communion  with  the  Lord,  and  as  is  probably  the  evangelist 's 
wont,  the  prisoner  and  the  fallen  woman  were  not  forgotten  in  her 
petition  to  the  throne  of  grace. 

Mrs.  Wheaton  was  not  inclined  to  talk  about  herself.  ' '  What 
has  been  done  by  me,"  she  said,  "was  done  of  the  Lord — His  be 
the  glory.  I  was  called  to  this  work  thirteen  years  ago,  and  I 
walk  by  His  guidance.  I  have  never  asked  and  could  nat  accept  a 
salary.  I  have  never  had  a  collection  taken  for  me.  It  is  a  won- 
derful thing  how  He  has  led  me.  Here  are  some  of  the  railroad 
passes  that  have  been  given  me. ' J 

And  here  she  unrolled  a  leathern  holder  full  of  passes  from  all 
the  leading  roads.  Some  were  "Account  of  Missionary  Work" 
and  some  ' '  Account  of  Christian  Work. "  It  is  evident  that  she 
has  traveled  this  country  over,  and  her  ministrations  have  also  ex- 
tended to  the  old  world. 

Mrs.  Wheaton  again  attended  the  services  last  night,  and 
moved  all  by  her  stirring  words.  Many  could  not  repress  the  tears. 
Her  address  was  not  anchored  to  a  formal  text,  but  was  a  strong 
appeal,  nevertheless,  to  the  sinner  to  repent.  The  audience  was 
slow  to  pass  out  after  the  meeting,  being  anxious  to  meet  the 
speaker. 

The  following  from  Bro.  Snyder  and  his  estimable  wife 
who  are  my  very  dear  friends  and  whose  home  is  always 
open  to  me  when  I  am  in  Baltimore,  are  very  much  prized. 
They  explain  themselves.  Their  work  for  God  and  souls 
is  very  exceptional : 

During  the  winter  of  1894,  Mother  Wheaton  was  conducting  a 
service  at  the  state  prison,  when  one  of  our  men  expressed  his  desire 
that  she  should  attend  our  services.  This  was  my  first  introduction 
to  this  noble  child  of  God,  and  since  then  she  seldom  comes  East 
without  visiting  our  church ;  we  all  love  her,  but  she  rarely  stays 
over  a  day  at  one  time,  as  her  work  calls  her  away. 

In  1898,  we  induced  her  to  remain  with  us  a  week.  At  this  meet- 
ing hundreds  of  people  attended  and  many  souls  were  saved.  One 


OK    A    LAI5OR    OK    LOY1C 


303 


of  the  wealthiest  ladies  of  the  church  received  her  pentecost  and  is 
now  one  of  our  best  workers.  During  the  day  Mother  Wheaton  would 
visit  the  outcast  of  the  city.  I  recall  a  case  of  an  old  colored  woman 
that  we  found  in  a  miserable  hovel,  dying  without  Christ;  how,  after 
preparing  the  room  and  then  praying  to  Father  for  the  body,  she 
seemed  to  be  brought  back  to  life  by  the  prayers  of  God's  saint 
that  she  might  be  led  to  Christ,  and  after  she  gave  her  life  to  Him 
we  administered  the  Lord's  supper.  Mother  Wheaton  has  always 
been  a  blessing,  whenever  she  has  come  to  my  church;  good  people 
are  made  better,  bad  people  made  good. 


CHURCH    OF    THE    REDEEMER,    BALTIMORE,    M.    D. 

The  church  was  dedicated  to  God  by  "Mother  Wheaton''  before 
it  was  finished;  while  the  building  wras  i,n  course  of  erection  she  paid 
us  a  short  visit;  with  the  moon  shining  through  the  open  windows, 
mortar,  bricks,  etc.,  around  us,  she  was  prompted  to  take  the  church 
to  God  in  prayer.  I  will  never  forget  the  scene.  Thousands  have 
been  saved  and  many  sanctified.  The  work  is  still  spreading. 


304  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Baltimore,  Md.,  January  19,  1901. 

Dear  Mother:  Your  kind  letter  to  your  children  received  today. 
Began  special  meetings  Wednesday  night,  the  16th.  The  three 
nights  have  been  blessed  and  owned  of  Father.  Those  in  and  out  of 
tne  church  saved.  Thirty-three  at  the  altar. 

You  were  mentioned  last  night  in  the  meeting.  I  told  them  they 
could  look  for  you  to  come  in  at  any  time,  as  I  believe  Father  is 
going  to  send  you.  Never  in  my  ministry  did  I  feel  more  in  har- 
mony with  the  divine  Spirit.  As  I  am  writing  I  am  thinking  of  our 
citizenship  in  heaven.  What  a  time  we  will  have! 

How  I  longed  for  you  to  shout  with  me  Wednesday  night  over  the 
conversion  of  a  man  60  years  of  age,  who  never  knew  Christ.  I 
could  not  sleep,  but  praised  the  Father  all  that  night.  He  had  his 
wife  and  daughter  with  him  in  church  last  night. 

Mrs.  Snyder  joins  me  in  much  love  to  you  and  Sister  Taylor.  As 
ever,  Your  son  in  the  Gospel, 

J.  K.  SNYDER. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  October  20,  1902. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

Your  kind  letter  came  today.  Mrs.  Snyder  and  Eddie  often  speak 
of  you ;  and  once  a  day,  at  least,  we  pray  for  you. 

Yesterday  several  of  the  boys  in  the  Sunday  School  formed  a 
committee,  and  without  a  word  being  spoken  about  you,  came  to 
me  and  asked  of  you  and  wanted  to  know  when  they  would  have 
you  with  us. 

Last  week  had  fifteen  born  again;  four  last  night.  So  you  see 
Father  is  still  blessing  your  children. 

God  bless  you  and  keep  you,  is  the  prayer  of  your  son, 

J.  K.  SNYDER. 

1737  North  Broadway.  Baltimore  Md.,  June  23,  1903. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

Your  long  expected  letter  received.  Our  dear  heavenly  Father  con- 
tinues to  bless  us  at  home  and  at  the  church,  souls  saved  and  believers 
sanctified.  Glory!  The  Blood  covers  our  sins. 

Eddie  was  glad  to  know  you  had  not  forgotten  him.     He  is  a  great 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  305 

help  in  the  church;  your  prayers  are  not  in  vain.     We  remain 

Your  children, 

J.  K.  SNYDER  AND  WIFE. 

(From  the  Whosoever  Will  Rescue  Uission.) 

New  Orleans,  La.,  May  24,  1897. 
Dear  .Mother  Wheaton: 

We  are  getting  along  nicely  at  the  Mission.  The  Lord  is  blessing 
our  work  and  many  souls  are  being  saved.  We  have  started  a  branch 
mission  further  downtown.  We  call  it  « «  No.  2. ' ' 

We  will  never  forget  you,  dear  mother;  your  visit  did  us  so  much 
good.  The  boys  at  the  Mission  often  talk  of  you  and  Sister  Kelley. 
We  would  like  to  have  you  visit  us  again  soon,  the  Lord  willing. 
Mother  and  all  send  kindest  regards.  Wife  sends  love  to  you  both. 
Pray  for  us.  I  remain  Your  brother  in  Jesus, 

J.  H.  HAAG. 


(From  the  Mission  Worker,  New  Orleans.) 

PRISON  EVANGELIST. 

"Mother  Wheaton,"  the  noted  prison  evangelist,  arrived  in  the 
city  on  the  evening  of  February  21,  aird  spent  several  nights  during 
her  stay.  This  sister  in  Israel  has  visited  nearly  all  if  not  quite 
every  state  prison  in  the  United  States  and  some  in  foreign  countries, 
preaching  to  their  inmates  the  glad  tidings  of  great  joy.  She  is  a 
forcible  speaker  and  very  deeply  in  earnest.  Her  visit  to  this  city 
was  a  pleasant  one  and  resulted  in  mu^h  good  to  many. 

During  htr  stay  here  Mother  Wheaton  has  been  kept  very  busy 
about  her  Master's  business.  She  has  visited  about  all  the  prisons 
and  eleemosynary  institutions  in  the  city,  singing,  praying  and  ex- 
horting the  inmates  to  a  better  life.  She  has  been  at  the  Mission 
every  night,  and  we  have  had  some  wonderful  meetings.  Sister  J.  H. 
H.iag  has  been  her  almost  constant  companion  and  the  two  have  done 
splendid  work.  On  her  way  from  the  Mission  this  Mother  in  Israel 
has  several  times  stopped  in  at  saloons,  and  talked  to  all  present 
about  their  soul's  welfare.  She  is  intrepid — absolutely  without  fear 
•  —and  well  she  may  be  for  she  leans  upon  the  Everlasting  Arm. 

We  do  not  know  how  long  she  will  stay  with  us,  but  probably  for 


306  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

some  days,  as  she  now  has  several  invitations  on  hand.  She  will  go 
when  and  where  the  Lord  leads  her.  Our  prayer  is  that  she  may  be 
made  the  instrument  of  winning  many  souls  to  Christ  that  her  crown 
in  glory  may  be  studded  with  precious  jewels.  She  says  of  herself 
that  she  ' '  has  no  home  but  heaven. ' ' 


(From  Pacific  Garden  Mission.) 

Chicago,  October  6,  1903. 
My  Dear  Sister  Wheaton,  God 's  Chosen  One : 

How  I  praise  my  heavenly  Father  for  your  life  and  that  I  ever 
knew  you,  and  for  your  unselfish  mercy  to  the  poor  and  neglected 
classes.  May  you  long  be  spared  to  ' '  gather  them  in  from  the  fields 
of  sin"  is  the  prayer  of  Your  sister  in  Christ, 

SARAH  D.  CLARK, 
Pacific  Garden  Mission. 

SUCCESSFUL   MEETINGS. 

During  the  early  years  of  my  mission  work  I  arrived  one 
day  alone  in  a  Southern  city.  Went  to  the  postoffice  and 
was  reading  my  mail  when  a  good  old  man  stepped  up  and 
inquired  who  I  was  and  where  I  stopped.  I  told  him  I  had 
just  arrived.  He  said,  "Come  home  with  me.  My"  wife 
has  a  room  and  a  home  for  good  women  like  you."  I  was 
praying  for  an  open  door.  Did  not  know  where  I  was  go- 
ing to  stay  over  night,  but  was  sure  God  had  sent  me  to 
that  place.  I  found  them  kind,  hospitable  people.  He  was 
on  old-fashioned  Methodist  preacher  already  superannuated, 
and  he  has  long  since  gone  to  his  reward.  He  sent  for  the 
pastor  of  their  church  and  arranged  for  me  to  hold  a  meet- 
ing. I  went  at  the  request  of  the  pastor  to  visit  an  old  lady 
who  was  sick ;  thought  best  to  have  an  open  air  meeting  on 
the  street  and  invite  people  to  the  church  that  night.  Dur- 
ing the  service  on  the  street  I  noticed  a  very  well  dressed, 
fine  looking  young  man.  When  I  closed  he  came  to  me  and 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  307 

taking  my  hand  asked  me  to  call  at  his  store  a  few  doors 
away.  I  did  so  and  he  gave  me  a  fountain  pen  and  seemed 
unusually  interested  in  what  I  had  said. 

The  meeting  that  night  was  led  by  the  Holy  Spirit ;  souls 
were  saved,  Christians  quickened  into  new  spiritual  life  and 
power,  and  sinners  awakened.  Other  services  were  held  in 
several  of  the  churches.  God  was  honored  and  the  Holy 
Spirit  held  right-of-way.  Often  I  would  have  services  in 
the  white  people's  church  till  9  p.  m.,  then  hurry  to  the 
colored  people's  church  and  preach  and  sing  and  pray  till 
ii  o'clock.  Then  at  5  in  the  morning  would  meet  again, 
at  the  Methodist  church,  such  crowds  of  worshipers — de- 
vout, humble  seekers' after  God.  I  left  the  ctiy.just  as  the 
meetings  were  at  their  height.  In  the  next  world  when  we 
all  assemble  together  I  expect  to  see  many  who  were  con- 
verted at  that  series  of  meetings. 

CALLED   TO  THE   MINISTRY. 

The  young  man  who  seemed  so  interested  in  that  first 
street  service  came  to  all  the  meetings.  He  was  clearly 
converted  and  was  called  to  the  ministry.  For  some  time  he 
was  a  successful  soul  winner,  manifesting  a  pure  spirit  and 
a  godly  life ;  but  he  afterwards  became  discouraged  and 
went  into  business  to  support  his  family.  In  a  letter  from 
him  in  later  years  I  received  the  following  words: 

"At  the  time  I  got  your  postal  I  was  in  serious  meditation  on  spir- 
itual affairs  and  was  fully  considering  re-entering  the  Gospel  min- 
istry. I  know  I  was  called  of  the  Lord  through  His  Holy  Spirit  to 
preach  His  everlasting  gospel.  Praise  His  holy  name!  He  gave 
me  the  seal  of  His  approval  in  the  witness  of  His  Spirit  and  the 
fruit  of  my  labor  in  the  salvation  of  souls.  I  know  this  of  a  truth 
from  experience.  You  cannot  imagine  how  I  long,  Oh,  so  intensely, 
to  be  again  filled  with  His  Spirit  and  to  enter  upon  His  work  in 
the  salvation  of  souls.  Lovingly  yours,  I.  H.  N." 


3O8  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

A    COLORED    WOMAN    SAVED    AND    PREACHING. 

In  the  year  1886  I  was  holding  meetings  in  Houston, 
Texas.  Was  in  a  colored  people's  church  one  day,  and  was 
much  perplexed  as  to  how  to  reach  the  people's  hearts  I 
wept  before  the  Lord  in  prayer.  I  did  not  know  it  then,  but 
God  was  working,  using  my  zeal  and  grief  to  help  save  a 
soul.  Finally  a  woman  who  came  to  scoff  and  ridicule  was 
converted.  She  received  a  call  to  preach  after  vowing  that 
women  were  never"  called  to  preach.  Well,  the  years  rolled 
by  and  one  night  in  Oklahoma  City  I  saw  the  Salvation 
Army  gathering  in  a  tent.  I  went  in  and  was  invited  to 
read  the  Word  and  lead  the  meeting.  I  did  so,  and  as  the 
services  were  about  to  close  a  colore'd  woman  arose  and 
said  she  wished  to  state  that  she  was  saved,  and  told  how 
she  was  also  called  to  preach  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
through  what  I  said  in  that  meeting  in  Houston,  Texas,  so 
long  before.  She  labored  for  years  as  an  evangelist  and  so 
far  as  I  know  is  still  preaching.  In  her  evangelistic  work 
she  has  labored  successfully  in  many  of  the  states. 

At   one  time   she   wrote   of  her   conversion   as   follows : 

"When  I  was  seeking  life  in  the  Lord,  I  did  not  want  to  eat  for 
two  weeks,  and  had  no  appetite,  but  I  prayed  on  and  the  change 
came  and  I  felt  brand  new.  i  loved  everybody — white  and  colored. 
I  seemed  to  have  on  a  white  garment,  and  that  death  had  fallen 
beneath  my  feet  and  had  no  mere  dominion  over  me.  It  seemed 
that  I  had  seen  the  Lord  and  He  told  me  to  go  in  peace  and  sin  no 
more,  and  I  was  one  more  happy  soul.  I  wanted  to  tell  everybody 
what  the  Lord  had  done  for  my  soul." 

STRIKING   EXPERIENCES. 

Once  while  holding  meetings  in  Wichita,  Kansas,  I  was 
greatly  troubled.  I  knew  not  why.  I  could  neither  preach 
nor  sing.  I  did  not  know  what  was  wrong.  Suddenly  a 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  30Q 

large  man  rose  and  rushed  from  the  room  taking  his  wife 
and  children  with  him.  He  told  me  afterward  that  he  came 
with  the  avowed  purpose  of  killing  another  man  who  was 
there.  And  they  both  came  there  with  the  intention  of  kill- 
ing each  other. 

At  the  same  mission  a  man  came  running  in  and  said 
that  a  young  railroad  man  across  the  street  in  the  jail  was 
dying,  having  taken  poison  I  went  to  the  jail  where  the 
young  man  was  lying  on  the  floor  and  kneeling  beside  him, 
took  his  hand  and  for  two  hours  pleaded  with  God  to  spare 
his  life  and  save  his  soul  And  the  Lord  answered  prayer. 
The  doctors  were  amazed  and  perplexed,  as  they  could  not 
understand  how  the  man  could  live,  as  all  their  efforts  had 
seemed  to  be  fruitless.  It  was  simply  one  of  God's  miracles. 

SAVED  BY  A  HYMN. 

Passing  along  the  street  one  night  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  I  saw 
standing  in  a  doorway  a  group  of  well-dressed  young  ladies, 
also  a  lady  much  older.  I  spoke  to  them  and  asked  for  a 
drink  of  water  and  some  favor  to  further  the  conversation. 
When  once  in  doors  I  saw  a  piano,  and  said,  "Which  one  of 
you  ladies  will  play  a  piece  on  the  piano?  I  love  music  so 
much."  A  little  boy  four  years  old  came  in.  They  asked 
him  to  tell  me  what  he  intended  to  be  when  he  grew  up. 
He  said,  "A  preacher.  I  am  going  to  see  my  mamma  in 
Heaven.''  He  was  their  sister's  boy.  He  sang  for  me  while 
one  of  his  aunts  played  the  piano.  In  his  sweet,  lisping 
voice  he  sang,  "I  never  will  cease  to  love  Him."  I  was  im- 
pressed to  ask  him  to  come  to  the  mission  where  I  was 
going  to  preach  that  night,  and  sing  that  piece,  and  have 
the  aunt  play  the  organ.  Both  consented  to  go  with  me  and 
when  I  asked  him  the  little  boy  came  on  the  platform  and 


3IO  PRISONS    AN'I>    J'RAYER 

sang  beautifully.  His  father  had  heard  of  my  desire  to  have 
the  child  sing,  and  had  straggled  into  the  mission  under  the 
influence  of  strong  drink.  He  was  so  convicted  and  heart- 
broken he  wept,  and  that  four-year-old  boy  walked  from 
the  platform  down  the  aisle  to  that  lonely,  heart-sick  father, 
who  then  and  there  gave  himself  up  to  God,  and  was  saved 
before  he  left  the  hall,  through  the  singing  of  a  hymn ! 


God  will  forgive  each  penitent  whate'er  his  sin  may  be, 
Whose  heart  is  overflowing  with  love  for  bond  and  free. 
Oh,  listen!   brother,  listen — 'tis  Jehovah's  plan — 
And  a  time  is  fixed  to  right  the  wrongs  of  Man.. 

— Prison  Poetry. 


o 


w 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
Preaching  the  Gospel  on  Railway  Trains. 

The  young  man  on  the  front  of  the  engine  in  the  forego- 
ing illustration  was  my  sister's  son.  I  give  here  an  extract 
from  the  account  of  his  death  June  7,  1890,  as  published  at 
the  time  in  the  daily  of  Huntington,  Ind.,  where  it  occurred : 

KILLED  BY  CARS. 

A.  C  Hoffman,  a  switchman  in  the  Chicago  &  Atlantic  yards,  was 
run  over  and  killed  this  morning. 

He  was  employed  at  night  and  about  5  o  'clock  this  morning  went 
to  the  coal  dock  to  run  down  two  cars  that  had  been  unloaded  there. 
The  track  is  very  much  inclined  leading  from  the  dock  and  it 
requires  that  brakes  be  set  very  tight.  When  the  cars  started  down 
the  track  Hoffman  ran  from  the  rear  end  to  the  front  of  the  head 
car  to  set  the  brake,  but  in  doing  so  stubbed  his  toe  and  fell  from 
the  car  to  the  middle  of  the  track  beneath.  The  car  was  running 
rapidly  and  no  sooner  did  he  strike  the  track  than  a  brake  beam  of 
the  car  struck  his  right  leg  near  the  hip,  fracturing  the  bones  and 
bruising  it  otherwise.  That  threw  him  over  and  the  flange  of  a 
wheel  struck  the  lower  part  of  his  back,  tearing  the  flesh  all  off  clear 
to  his  backbone,  exposing  it  to  sight. 

Hoffman  was  picked  up  and  taken  to  the  Arlington  house,  where 
he  boarded,  and  Dr.  L.  Severance,  the  railroad  surgeon  summoned. 
He  did  all  in  his  power  to  make  the  injured  man  easy  and  alleviate 
his  pain,  but  it  was  out  of  the  reach  of  medical  skill  to  save  his  life 
and  at  about  10  o'clock  he  died  in  awful  agony. 

Hoffman's  mother  and  brother  live  in  Lincoln,  Neb.,  where  the 
latter  is  a  physician.  He  also  has  a  sister  in  Elkhart  county,  this 
state,  all  of  whom  have  been  telegraphed  the  sad  news. 

He  was  a  good  switchman  and  more  than  ordinarily  intelligent. 

Tt  is  a  most  distressing  accident.  The  young  man  was  here  among 
strangers  and  died  surrounded  by  the  friends  of  so  short  an  acquaint- 
ance but  who  did  everything  within  human  power  to  save  him  or 


314  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

make  his  end  one  of  peace.     His   injuries  \yere   fatal  though   and 
nothing  short  of  death  would  relieve  him. 

"ALL  ABOARD !"  So  shout  the  railroad  men,  year  in 
and  year  out,  daily,  hourly,  their  cry  is  to  get  on  board  the 
train.  I  often  think  if  we  preachers  and  mission  workers 
were  as  faithful  in  our  work  to  get  people  on  board  the  old 
ship  Zion,  how  many  to-day  would  be  en  route  for  Heaven 
who  are  on  the  broad-gauge  rapid  transit  to  the  bottomless 
pit  of  destruction.  Will  we  not  arise  and  shine  for  God 
as  we  have  never  done  before? 

Over  fifty  years  ago  when  I  was  a  small  child,  I  stood  at 
a  flag-station  waiting  for  the  train.  T  was  to  go  alone  ON 
MY  FIRST  TRIP  by  this  wonderful  mode  of  travel.  It  was 
just  the  grandest  thing  to  know  I  was  really  to  ride  on  a 
railroad  train — only  four  miles,  yet  I  often  think  of  it  after 
these  twenty  years  of  constant  travel.  Have  I  ever  had  such 
a  remarkable  experience,  going  alone,  too,  and  as  there  was 
no  station  or  ticket  office,  I  was  obligecl  to  pay  my  fare  on 
the  train.  I  had  a  silver  25-cent  piece,  and  I  sat  down  in  the 
first  empty  seat  I  came  to  and  waited  to  see  what  next! 
Along  came  a  tall  man  in  uniform  and  asked  where  I  was 
going.  I  told  him  and  handed  him  my  money.  I  remember 
yet  how  kindly  that  conductor  looked  at  me,  hesitated  a  little 
and  then  handed  me  back  my  quarter,  and  let  me  ride  those 
four  miles  free.  I  have  never  forgotten  that  act  of  kind- 
ness on  the  railroad,  and  during  my  pilgrimage  I  have  been 
shown  much  kindness  by  the  railroad  officials. 

My  work  among  railroad  men  has  been  greatly  owned  and 
blessed  of  the  Lord.  Many  of  them  saying,  "You  are  the 
only  preacher  that  ever  speaks  to  us  about  our  soul's  salva- 
tion." They  often  say  I  remind  them  of  their  mothers  who 
were  good  Christians. 

The  following  by  a  railroad  man  will  be  of  interest  and 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  315 

profit  to  all,  and  will  doubtless  have  more  weight  with  his 
class  than  anything  I  could  say  here : 

TO  RAILROAD  MEN. 

BY   ONE   OF   THEM. 

Dear  Boys:  One  time  in  my  life  these  words  came  to  me:  "Where 
will  you  spend  eternity?"  Then  and  there  I  turned  my  back  on  sin 
and  "set  my  face  like  a  flint"  toward  God  and  heaven,  and  cried  to 
God  for  Jesus'  sake  to  forgive  me;  and  near  the  hour  of  midnight 
while  kneeling  at  my  bedside  I  received  the  witness  of  the  Spirit  that 
I  was  saved.  Then  and  there  I  was  "born  again"  into  newness  of 
life.  I  was  changed  from  a  man  of  sin  to  a  child  of  God,  and  since 
then  such  wonderful  joy  and  peace  fills  my  soul  every  minute  of  the 
time  that  I  want  to  tell  all  of  you  about  it. 

Brother,  isn't  there  in  your  breast  at  times  an  awful  aching  void? 
Aren't  there  times  when  after  trying  every  pleasure  and  amusement 
the  world  affords,  you  just  quietly  sit  down  all  alone  before  God,  and 
realize  that  it  is  all  in  vain?  These  things  don  't  satisfy ;  and  there  down 
deep  in  your  heart  is  a  longing  that  is  never  satisfied,  a  hungering  for 
something  that  will  give  you  complete  joy  and  peace,  and  soul  rest. 
Brother,  there  is  only  one  thing  that  will  give  you  this  complete  rest, 
and  satisfy  every  longing  of  your  heart,  and  that  is  salvation  from 
sin.  Jesus  died  on  the  cross  that  you  might  be  free  from  sin  and 
live  through  all  the  ages  of  eternity  with  Him  in  heaven.  "If  we 
forsake  our  sins  he  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  our  sins  and 
cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteousness. ' '  If  we  do  the  forsaking  He 
will  do  the  forgiving,  and  then  through  His  atoning  blood  we  become 
new  creatures,  and  after  we  have  received  the  clear  witness  that  we 
are  adopted  into  the  family  of  God  and  can  truly  call  Him  Father, 
if  we  feel  angry  at  times  or  have  some  desire  for  the  world  and  the 
things  of  it,  we  can  come  to  Him  again  and  completely  abandon 
ourselves  to  Him,  our  will,  our  life,  our  desires,  our  time,  our  talents 
to  be  used  for  His  glory,  then  He  will  baptize  us  with  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  power  so  that  it  becomes  a  pleasure  to  do  right  and  all 
evil  becomes  distasteful  to  us.  By  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  He 
cleanses  our  hearts,  and  the  Comforter  which  is  the  Holy  Ghost  takes 
up  His  abode  in  us,  sanctifying  us,  causing  us  to  live  pure,  holy 
lives.  We  railroad  men  whose  lives  are  in  danger  at  all  times 


316  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

should  be  prepared  to  meet  God,  for  one  minute  we  are  here  and 
the  next  we  may  be  standing  at  the  judgment  bar  of  God  to  answer 
for  deeds  done  here  on  earth.  Dear  reader,  are  ^Ou  prepared  to 
do  that?  If  not,  make  this  the  time  that  you  will  settle  this  forever 
by  giving  your  heart  to  God,  then  if  this  little  flame  of  life  is  snuffed 
out  you  will  be  borne  on  angel 's  wings  onward  and  upward  through 
the  gates  of  pearl,  over  the  golden  paved  streets  of  the  New  Jeru- 
salem up  to  the  great  white  throne  where  you  will  see  Jesus  in  all  His 
glory  and  majesty  and  hear  Him  say  to  you,  "Well  done,  enter  thou 
into  the  joy  of  the  Lord. ' ' 

Let  me  tell  you,  brother,  when  the  Lord  saved  me  and  gave  me 
such  sweet  joy  and  peace  I  told  Him  that  I  would  never  use  beer  or 
tobacco  in  any  form,  for  I  knew  it  was  displeasing  to  Him,  for  He 
says,  "What?  know  ye  not  that  your  body  is  the  temple  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  which  is  in  you?"  (1  Cor.  6:19).  "If  any  man  defile  the 
temple  of  God,  him  shall  God  destroy"  (1  Cor.  3:17).  "Cleanse 
ourselves  from  all  filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit"  (2  Cor.  7:1). 

And,  brother,  perhaps  you  are  a  slave  to  tobacco.  Many  times 
you  have  felt  that  it  was  a  dirty,  useless,  expensive  habit,  and  you 
get  thoroughly  disgusted  with  it,  and  perhaps  you  quit  it  for  a  short 
time,  and  then  how  surprised  and  disgusted  you  feel  because  you 
find  what  an  awful  hold  it  has  got  on  you.  It  is  worse  than  a  spell 
of  sickness  to  try  and  quit  it,  and  you  soon  take  it  up  again,  realiz- 
ing as  you  do  so  that  you  are  harboring  something  that  is  stronger 
than  you  are,  appetite;  and  although  you  are  a  strong,  robust  man 
you  have  to  admit  that  it  is  your  master.  And  when  you  go  home  to 
meet  your  mother,  wife,  sister,  you  notice  them  shrink  away  from  the 
breath  made  foul  by  the  poisonous  tobacco.  And  the  times  that  it 
almost  destroys  the  taste  for  anything  else,  and  you  use  all  the  more 
of  it  till  the  disagreeable  "heartburn"  warns  you  that  the  deadly 
poisonous  nicotine  is  eating  away  at  the  lining  of  your  stomach,  and 
you  are  more  disgusted  than  ever,  but  you  can 't  quit  without  tor- 
turing yourself. 

Oh,  how  I  loved  my  beer,  plug  of  tobacco  and  pipe  before  I  was 
saved,  but  I  quit  them  all — drinking,  chewing,  smoking,  swearing  and 
all  immoral  habits,  and  I  would  have  died  before  I  would  have  in- 
dulged in  any  one  of  them  in  the  least ;  but  the  desire  was  still  there ; 
at  times  I  wanted  them.  And  seven  days  after  I  was  saved 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  317 

i  was  convicted  for  sanctification  or  a  clean  heart.  There  were  some 
Holy  Ghost  Christian  people  who  void  me  there  was  a  place  1  could  get 
in  the  higher  or  complete  Christian  life  where  God  through  JeoUo' 
blood  shed  without  the  gate  (Heb.  13:12)  would  cleanse  my  heait 
from  everything  that  was  displeasing  to  Him,  and  would  so  fill  it 
with  love  and  the  power  of  the  Hoiy  ohost  that  I  would  be  com- 
pletely delivered  jrotn  all  desires  that  tieie  wrong,  from  anger,  malice, 
pride,  love  of  the  world,  lust,  jealousy,  etc.,  and  take  away  the  appe- 
tite for  beer  and  tobacco.  1  found  God's  Word  taught  it,  and  be- 
lieved He  was  ' '  strong  to  deliver, ' '  and  that  it  was  God  's  will,  even 
my  sanctification  (1  Thes.  4:3). 

And  1  cried  to  God  to  give  me  ' '  a  clean  heart,  and  a  right  spirit, ' ' 
and  he  answered  my  prayer.  It  was  done  instantly.  I  arose  from 
my  knees  with  a  sweet  sense  of  complete  deliverance,  and  such  joy 
and  perfect  peace  filled  my  whole  being  that  I  couldn  't  praise  Jesus 
enough  for  it.  From  that  moment  I  have  not  had  the  least  desire 
for  those  things  any  more  than  if  I  never  had  tasted  them,  and  the 
very  smell  of  beer  or  tobacco  makes  me  sick.  This  is  a  wonderful, 
grand  deliverance.  Now  I  am  as  free  as  the  very  air — saved,  sancti- 
fied, and  sweetly  kept  by  the  power  of  God. 

Brother,  this  is  for  you  if  you  are  willing  to  give  up  the  foolishness 
of  the  world  for  Christ.  The  joy  that  we  have  in  one  hour  in  the 
service  of  the  Lord  is  far  greater  than  all  the  pleasure  the  world 
can  give  in  a  lifetime.  This  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  within  us,  this 
abiding  Comforter  fills  us  with  glad  sunshine  all  the  time,  and  there 
is  constantly  a  power  like  "a  wall  of  fire  round  about  us"  warding 
off  all  evil. 

Oh,  it 's  glorious  and  grows  better  and  brighter  each  day. 

' '  Blessed  assurance,  Jesus  is  mine ! 
Oh,  what  a  foretaste  of  glory  divine! 
Heir  of  salvation,  purchased  of  God, 
Born  of  His  pirit,  washed  in  His  blood. ' ' 

Your  fellow  brakesman,  in  Jesus'  name, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  M.  L.  ODELL. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

People  sometimes  ask  me  how  I  am  able  to  get  transpor- 


3l8  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

tation  on  the  railroads.  Well,  in  a  few  words,  it  is  because 
I  pray  to  the  Lord  to  have  the  way  open  to  whatever  place 
He  wants  me  to  go,  and  the  railroad  men  know  me  and  of 
my  work  for  suffering  humanity,  and  are  glad  to  help  me 
in  it. 

A    KIND    CONDUCTOR. 

On  July  17,  1903,  I  was  on  my  way  from  Washington, 
D.  C,  on  an  important  journey,  and  the  conductor  told  me 
the  train  I  was  on  did  not  stop  at  Sherwood,  and  I  wanted 
to  know  where  I  should  stop  to  get  another  train  that  would 
stop  there.  He  told  me  at  Defiance,  and  when  we  reached 
there  I  got  off  the  train.  Just  then  the  conductor  looked 
out  and  called  for  a  porter  to  "put  that  lady  back  on  the 
train."  I  was  bewildered  at  this.  He  again  called  "put 
that  lady  back  on  the  train."  I  said,  "Isn't  this  Defiance?'" 
"Yes,  but  I  shall  put  you  off  at  Sherwood."  Who  told  that 
conductor  to  telegraph  to  headquarters  to  get  a  permit  to 
stop  the  train  for  me?  God  did  it!  That  conductor  will 
never  know  how  much  his  act  strengthened  my  faith  in  God. 
Dear  reader,  do  you  ever  think  of  the  hardships  and  dan- 
gers through  which  these  railroad  men  must  pass?  We  put 
ourselves  in  their  care  without  praying  for  them.  I  seldom 
enter  a  train  without  praying  God  to  protect  the  railroad 
men  and  passengers,  and  give  them  His  blessing.  He  does 
hear  and  answer  prayer.  How  often  the  dear  Lord  has 
heard  my  cries  for  the  safety  of  the  trains-! 

Some  of  my 

MOST   INTERESTING  GOSPEL   SERVICES 

have  been  held  on  railway  trains.  As  I  was  once  leaving 
Chicago  over  the  C.  &  R.  I.  R.  R.  at  night,  a  request  was 
made  that  I  should  sing  for  the  passengers.  I  was  convers- 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  319 

ing  with  Mrs.  Colonel  Clark  of  the  Pacific  Garden  Mission, 
Chicago.  As  she  was  to  soon  leave  the  tram  I  said  I  would 
sing  when  she  had  gone.  I  sang  some  hymns,  and  then  a 
gentleman  requested  that  I  should  ask  all  in  the  car  who 
were  Christians  to  raise  their  hands.  I  did  so  and  quite  a 
number  responded  to  this,  and  he  then  asked  all  who  had 
raised  their  hands  to  give  a  word  of  testimony.  He  was 
the  first  one  to  speak  and  said,  "I  am  a  Christian.  The  last 
thing  before  I  left  my  home  for  Chicago  was  to  gather  my 
wife  and  four  little  children  around  me  and  commit  them 
to  God's  care  and  ask  for  my  safe  return.  I  have  for  years 
been  a  stock  dealer  and  frequently  come  to  Chicago.  There 
is  a  young  man  m  our  neighborhood  who  is  also  a  dealer 
in  stock,  but  being  unacquainted  with  the  ways  of  the  city, 
he  did  not  like  to  go  alone  and  as  I  was  a  Christian  came 
with  me.  When  there  is  an  opportunity  like  this  given,  if  I 
did  not  honor  God  and  show  my  colors  this  young  man 
could  have  no  confidence  in  me.  I  speak  for  his  special 
benefit."  He  closed  with  an  exhortation  to  the  unsaved  td 
prepare  to  meet  God  and  requested  me  to  sing  again.  Then 
one  after  another  arose  and  spoke.  It  -reminded  one  of  AN 

OLD-FASHIONED    METHODIST    CLASS     MEETING.       Prayer,    tCS- 

timonies  and  singing  continued  till  after  midnight.  The 
young  stock  dealer  and  others  were  saved.  Toward  morn- 
ing I  fell  into  a  sound  sleep.  I  do  not  know  how  long  I 
slept,  but  when  I  awoke  the  sun  was  high  and  our  car  was 
standing  alone  on  the  track.  A  lady  passenger  spoke  to  me 
saying,  ''How  could  you  sleep  during  that  wreck  ?"  "What ! 
has  anything  happened?"  I  said.  "Yes,  a  wreck,"  she  re- 
plied. The  engine  and  other  cars  were  gone  and  they  were 
clearing  up  the  wreck.  I  heard  from  that  meeting  years 
afterwards. 

One  night  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  open  air  for  the 


320  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

special  benefit  of  railroad  men.  I  asked  all  who  wanted  to 
be  saved  to  raise  their  hands ;  then  said,  ''Will  you  not  give 
your  hearts  to  God  now?"  One  year  from  that  time  while 
in  a  meeting  a  man  arose  and  said  that  he  was  in  the  crowd 
that  night,  and  raised  his  hand,  and  then  at  once  looked  to 
God  and  was  saved  then  and  there. 

TRAIN   SAVED  FROM    WRECK   IN   ANSWER  TO   PRAYER. 

The  Lord  has  often  made  known  to  me  when  the  train 
was  in  danger.  I  could  see  the  plots  laid  by  wicked  men  to 
wreck  the  train,  and  when  I  have  prayed,  He,  in  answer  to 
prayer,  has  delivered  us  from  harm  and  death.  He  says: 
"The  very  hairs  of  your  head  are  all  numbered,"  and  "I 
will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee." 

At  one  time  I  had  been  in  old  Mexico  and  changing  cars 
at  El  Paso,  Texas,  I  found  a  heavy  trainload  of  passengers 
on  the  way  east.  I  was  impressed  all  night  of  impending 
peril.  I  could  not  sleep,  and  walked  the  floor  of  the  car  in 
silent  prayer.  I  went  to  the  young  sister  with  me  and 
said,  "The  train  is  in  great  danger,  and  something  will  hap- 
pen unless  the  Lord  delivers  us.  The  text  comes  to  me  so 
forcibly,  'What,  could  ye  not  watch  with  me  one  hour?' 
Watch  and  pray !"  That  night  six  train-robbers  had  deter- 
mined to  wreck  and  rob  the  train.  They  had  stolen  six 
horses  and  gone  to  a  lonely  place  uninhabited  for  miles 
about.  They  bound  and  gagged  the  section  foreman  and  his 
men-,  then  took  the  switch-key  and  threw  the  switch  to  wreck 
the  train.  When  they  saw  the  train  passing  on  they  tried  to 
hail  it  with  their  lanterns,  but  by  some  mysterious  power  of 
God  their  lights  were  put  out,  so  that  the  engineer  did  not 
see  them.  Then  they  tried  to  board  the  train  but  were  un- 
able to  succeed.  It  wTas  a  most  remarkable  occurrence.  They 
either  did  not  open  the  switch  properly  and  the  train  set  it 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  321 

back  to  its  place,  or  the  hand  of  God  closed  the  switch.  The 
newspapers  published  quite  an  account  of  this  incident, 
from  which  source  the  above  concerning  the  robbers  was 
obtained,  as  they  were  caught  and  made  confession. 

A   TRAIN    IN    DANGER. 

In  July,  1889, 1  was  on  my  way  from  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
to  St.  Louis,  having  with  me  a  man  and  his  wife.  About  I 
o'clock  in  the  morning  I  awoke  with  awful  fear  upon  me 
of  some  impending  danger.  I  told  my  friends  that  we  must 
pray  for  God  to  save  the  train,  and  that  no  power  but  God's 
could  avert  the  coming  disaster,  whatever  it  might  be.  Still 
the  horror  as  of  death  was  upon  me,  and  later  in  the  night 
the  train  suddenly  stopped.  The  train  men  ran  out  with 
their  lanterns  and  found  that  the  engine  had  become  un- 
coupled from  the  cars  and  just  in  front  of  the  engine  was  a 
pile  of  iron.  The  iron  rails  of  the  track  were  set  so  that  a 
wreck  would  have  been  the  result  if  God  had  not  interposed. 
God  thwarted  the  well-laid  plans  that  had  been  made  to 
wreck  and  rob  the  train.  This  was  in  a  lonely  place  where 
no  help  was  near,  and  the  robbers  would  have  the  best  of 
chances  to  rob  the  train.  On  our  return  west  a  similar  ter- 
ror came  upon  me  and  I  said,  "Pray  for  this  train,  or  some- 
thing will  happen  to  it  before  we  reach  St.  Joe."  I  was 
terrified  all  day.  Just  as  the  train  stopped  at  the  depot  our 
car  was  wrecked.  The  front  wheels  of  the  car  were  turned 
around  crosswise  of  the  track,  tearing  up  the  planks,  rails 
and  earth.  Such  a  queer  looking  wreck,  and  apparently  no 
reason  for  it!  Yet  we  had  been  brought  in  safety  to  our 
journey's  end  and  no  one  was  injured. 

IMPRESSED  TO  LEAVE  THE  TRAIN. 

At  another  time  after  preaching  at  Canon  City  prison  in 


322  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Colorado,  we  had  our  baggage  checked  to  Leadville  in  the 
same  state.  We  held  meetings  on  the  train  and  some  were 
moved  to  tears.  When  the  engine  whistled  for  Salida  a 
dreadful  feeling  of  fear  and  terror  overtook  me.  Something 
seemed  to  say  to  me,  "Get  off  the  train."  I  felt  it  was  a 
command  from  the  Lord.  I  told  the  friends  who  were  with 
me  what  the  words  of  the  Lord  were,  and  said  that  we  must 
leave  the  train.  We  hurriedly  left  the  train  without  wait- 
ing for  another  warning.  I  looked  after  the  train  as  it  moved 
away  and  said,  "I  wonder  why  I  had  to  leave  that  train. 
Perhaps  not  till  the  judgment  will  I  know."  We  went  on  the 
street  and  held  an  open  air  meeting,  and  some  one  invited 
us  to  hold  a  service  that  night  in  a  church.  We  did  so,  and 
God  poured  out  his  Spirit  on  the  people.  After  the  meet- 
ing we  went  out  and  visited  the  saloons,  and  spoke  to  many 
about  their  souls.  At  about  1 1  o'clock  at  night  we  returned 
to  the  depot  and  I  asked  the  agent  what  time  the  next  train 
would  leave  for  Leadville.  He  said,  "I  don't  know.  The 
train  you  got  off  from  was  terribly  wrecked  twelve  miles  up 
the  road.  The  east-bound  train  crashed  into  it,  and  I  have 
sent  out  two  wrecking  trains  already."  I  told  him  of  my 
presentiment  of  danger,  and  how  God  had  impressed  me 
to  leave  that  train.  He  asked  me  to  come  into  the  office  and 
explain  my  impressions  and  talk  to  him.  We  did  so,  and 
about  3  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  wrecked  train  backed 
down  to  the  depot  where  we  were  waiting  and  we  again  got 
aboard.  I  told  the  passengers  as  they  looked  at  me  as  I 
came  into  the  car,  "The  Lord  warned  me  of  the  danger  and 
impressed  me  to  get  off  the  train."  I  have  taken  the  Lord 
as  my  guide  all  these  years  and  He  has  never  forsaken  me. 

A  TELEGRAM   RECEIVED. 

Waiting  for  a  train  where  I  changed  cars  I  was  invited 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  323 

to  sit  in  the  ticket  office,  as  the  waiting  room  was  uncom- 
fortable. I  was  writing  at  the  agent's  desk  when  he  handed 
me  a  telegram,  saying,  "I  think  this  is  intended  for  you, 
Mother."  It  was  an  announcement  of  the  death  of  one  of  my 
brothers,  and  was  being  sent  to  another  town,  having  to  be 
transferred  here,  and  the  agent  seeing  my  name  handed  it  to 
me.  I  could  see  the  hand  of  God  in  this. 

HELPED  TO  CARE  FOR  WOUNDED   MAN. 

Once  on  my  way  from  Burlington  to  Ft.  Madison,  la., 
I  told  the  conductor  I  was  impressed  to  go  on  that  special 
train.  When  we  were  about  a  mile  out  of  the  city,  the  en- 
gine accidentally  struck  a  man  and  hurt  him  badly.  The  man 
was  put  into  the  baggage  car  and  as  there  were  no  seats,  I 
stood  behind  him  and  held  his  head,  and  after  we  had  gone 
twelve  miles,  warm  water  was  secured  and  I  washed  the 
blood  from  his  head  and  cared  for  him  until  we  arrived  at 
the  station,  when  they  took  him  to  the  jail,  there  being  no 
other  place  for  him,  and  there  I  helped  the  doctor  dress 
his  wounds.  Then  I  knew  why  I  was  impressed  to  go  on 
that  train. 

CONDUCTOR'S  GOD  BLESS  YOU. 

Once  the  conductor  on  a  train  said  to  me  so  kindly,  as  he 
assisted  me  from  the  train,  "God  bless  you;  let  your  good 
work  go  on.  I  gave  the  tracts  you  gave  me  to  the  train- 
men— they  needed  them. '  How  this  cheered  me,  for  I 
had  tried  to  preach  to  them  on  the  train,  and  I  feared  the 
scoffs  or  reproof  of  the  railroad  officials.  How  I  do  long 
to  help  and  encourage  the  railroad  men — they  are  so  loyal 
and  faithful,  and  have  so  much  to  contend  with  in  their 
work.  "Be  not  overcome  of  evil,  but  overcome  evil  with 
good." 

A  WOMAN'S  FAITH  ENCOURAGED. 

On  the  way  from  Philadelphia  to  New  York  I  was  one 


324  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

day  led  to  pass  quietly  through  the  car  giving  out  tracts. 
After  seating  myself,  a  lady  came  and  asked  if  she  might 
speak  with  me  about 'the  work  I  was  doing.  She  said,  "If 
I  only  knew  God  could  and  would  heal  a  person  whose  mind 
was  shattered,  I  would  give  all  that  I  possess.  I  am  troubled 
about  my  daughter's  grieving  over  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band." I  told  her  God  never  fails  to  perform  his  miracles 
when  we  fully  believe  and  accept  God's  way  of  healing  the 
body  and  soul.  She  seemed  much  blessed  and  encouraged 
and  kindly  invited  me  to  her  home.  "As  ye  go,  preach." 
How  glad  she  was  to  find  some  one  who  would  tell  her 
about  salvation.  She  was  a  wealthy  lady,  as  I  afterward 
learned.  We  became  fast  friends  and  she  learned  of  heal- 
ing in  answer  to  "the  prayer  of  faith." 

RIDING  IN    PARLOR   CAR. 

Leaving  the  Indian  School  in  Indian  Territory  on  one 
of  the  coldest  mornings  I  ever  experienced,  myself  and  sis- 
ters were  driven  by  two  young  Indian  boys  to  a  flag  station. 
We  were  wrapped  in  warm  blankets  and  hurried  to  the 
railroad.  We  were  in  danger  of  freezing,  as  the  train  was 
long  delayed  on  account  of  the  blizzard  and  snow  drifts,  and 
we  sought  the  only  place  of  shelter — a  freight  car  in  which 
the  section  foreman  and  his  wife  lived,  where  we  shivered 
with  the  cold  until  the  train  came  in  sight. 

We  were  compelled  to  stop  in  the  parlor  car  (a  luxury 
that  I  never  indulge  in)  as  platforms  of  the  other  cars  were 
too  icy  to  pass  from  one  car  to  another  while  the  train  was 
in  motion.  We  were  much  blessed,  and  I  began  singing, 
and  praising  the  Lord.  When  the  train  came  to  a  station, 
we  arose  to  go  into  the  other  car,  but  a  gentleman  passenger 
called  to  the  conductor  and  said:  "How  much  is  the  fare 
for  these  ladies  to  remain  in  this  car?"  He  and  his  com- 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  325 

panion  paid  the  amount  required  and  we  were  permitted  to 
ride  in  the  parlor  car  to  Topeka,  Kansas. 

My  soul  was  so  blessed  that  I  felt  I  must  go  into  the  other 
cars  and  hold  services.  We  were  invited  to  go  to  the  diner 
with  friends.  When  we  arrived  at  the  station  where  dinner 
was  served,  one  after  another  of  the  passengers  handed  me 
some  money.  When  we  came  in  from  dinner  I  knelt  downl 
in  the  car,  and  was  praying  in  silence,  thanking  God  for 
what  He  had  given  us,  when  I  felt  someone  crush  some 
paper  in  my  hands.  I  looked  to  see  what  it  was  and  found 
it  was  a  ten  dollar  bill,  given  by  the  two  gentlemen  who  had 
paid  our  fare  in  the  parlor  car.  Of  course  I  was  greatly  sur- 
prised, and  as  Sister  Taylor  was  kneeling  by  my  side,  I 
said,  ''Sister,  this  must  be  in  answer  to  your  prayer.  Did 
you  pray  for  money?"  She  said  "Yes,  I  prayed  for  hours 
last  night."  I  said,  "Why  you  should  have  been  praying 
for  souls."  She  answered,  "I  knew  you  needed  money,  and 
no  one  was  giving  it  to  you."  Thus  God  hears  and  an- 
swers prayers  and  provides  for  the  needs  of  his  little  ones. 

I  give  below  a  letter  received  from  one  of  the  gentlemen 
who  gave  us  the  ten  dollars  who  was  a  prominent  business 
man  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania : 

Pittsburg,  Pa.,  March  25,  1899. 
Mrs.  K.  R.  Wheaton,  Tabor,  Iowa. 

My  Dear  Madam :  Your  card  of  the  18th  duly  received  and  I  was 
glad  to  hear  from  you  and  to  have  your  good  wishes,  but  was 
especially  grateful  for  your  prayers,  for  I  believe  in  prayer.  Do 
you  realize  how  much  a  busy  man  needs  the  prayers  of  God's  people? 

Brother  M.,  my  companion  whom  you  me"t  last  fall  in  Indian  Ter- 
ritory, is  well  and  I  know  will  be  glad  to  hear  from  you.  I  will  see 
him  next  week,  D.  V. 

If  you  pass  through  our  city  on  your  trip  East,  and  I  know  of  it, 
would  gladly  call  upon  you. 

With  best  wishes  for  your  welfare,  and  Mrs.  Taylor 's,  too,  I  am, 
Very  truly  your  friend,  T.  M.  N. 


326  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

The  following  brief  extract  is  from  a  report  of  a  service 
on  the  train  as  we  were  in  company  with  a  number  of  dele- 
gates on  their  way  to  the  Convocation  of  Prayer  at  Balti- 
more, in  January,  1903 : 

We  left  Indianapolis  at  3:05  p.  m.,  Monday.  After  we  started 
Mother  Wheaton,  who  was  with  us,  started  up  a  song,  then  went  to 
the  front  of  the  car,  and  standing  in  the  aisle  she  began  preaching 
to  the  people.  She  moved  down  the  aisle  still  preaching,  taking  about 
ten  minutes  to  come  through  the  car.  This  she  did  several  times, 
then  went  through  the  dining  and  palace  cars.  As  she  told  of  her 
prison  work,  how  God  could  save  criminals,  we  could  see  tears  come 
into  the  eyes  of  the  passengers.  A  U.  S.  marshal  sitting  near  us 
became  much  affected,  and  made  inquiry  of  Brother  S.  B.  Shaw 
who  the  woman  was,  and  said  he  knew  what  she  said  was  true,  and 
said  he  desired  to  be  saved.  A  wealthy  Mexican  on  the  train,  whose 
wife  had  recently  died  while  he  was  on  a  trip  to  Europe,  was  also 
brought  under  conviction,  and  would  have  Sister  Wheaton  take  din- 
ner in  the  dining  car;  also  had  Sisters  Wheaton  and  Shaw  take  a 
berth  in  the  sleeper  at  his  expense.  I  must  not  forget  to  tell  you 
that  Brother  Shaw  gave  us  an  excellent  talk  standing  in  the  aisle  of 
the  car. 

FAVOR   THE   R.    R.    CO. 

I  sometimes  have  an  opportunity  to  do  a  kindness  for  the 
R.  R.  Co.,  in  return  for  the  many. favors  they  do  for  me. 
At  one  time  I  reached  the  railroad  station  at  Fort  Worth, 
Texas,  before  my  train  arrived.  While  we  were  waiting  for 
a  Santa  Fe  train,  an  old  lady  who  was  evidently  not  in  her 
right  mind  and  who  had  been  sent  by  friends  to  go  alone  to 
other  friends  who  lived  at  a  distance,  of  her  own  accord 
tried  to  climb  over  one  train  to  get  to  another  and  was 
injured.  The  injury  was  caused  by  her  own  mental  condi- 
tion and  through  no  fault  of  the  railroad  men. 
Before  she  left  us,  I  wrote  a  little  message  of  love  and  put 
it  into  her  hand  bag  with  my  name  and  address  on  it.  In  a 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  327 

few  days  I  received  the  following  letter  from  her  attorneys. 

Fort  Worth,  Tex.,  November  21,  1898. 
Mrs.  E.  E.  Wheaton,  Tabor,  Iowa. 

Dear  Madam:  We  conclude  from  a  kind  and  sympathetic  letter 
you  wrote  to  Mrs.  Harper,  the  old  lady  who  fell  from  the  platform  at 
the  Gulf,  Colorado  &  Santa  Fe  Eailway  depot  at  Fort  Worth,  Tex., 
on  Friday  night,  the  llth  day  of  November,  that  you  likely  saw  the 
old  lady  fall.  And  perhaps  you  can  tell  us  how  she  came  to  fall  and 
who  else  saw  her  when  she  fell.  Mrs.  Harper  has  employed  us  to  sue 
the  railroad  company  for  said  injuries.  She  claims  that  she  walked 
off  of  the  platform  where  there  were  no  railings  and  fell  between 
two  freight  cars  left  standing  on  the  track,  left  so  far  apart  that 
she  could  see  the  railroad  car  she  wanted  to  board  between  said  open- 
ing so  left.  Will  you  please  write  us  all  you  know  about  the  matter, 
and  who  else  saw  it,  if  any  one,  and  where  such  person  or  persons 
live  if  you  know.  By  doing  so  you  will  greatly  oblige, 

Yours  truly, 

WYNNE,  MC-CART  &  BOWLIN. 

In  reply  I  assured  them  that  it  would  be  utterly  unjust  to 
bring  suit  against  the  railroad  company — giving  them  the 
facts  as  far  and  as  fully  as  I  knew  them.  I  learned  later 
that  this  ended  the  contemplated  suit. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
Street  and  Open  Air  Work. 

THE  MASTER'S  QUESTIONS. 

Have  ye  looked  for  my  sheep  in  the  desert, 

For  those  who  have  missed  their  way? 
Have  ye  been  in  the  wild  waste  places, 

Where  the  lost  and  wandering  stray? 
Have  ye  trodden  the  lonely  highway, 

The  foul  and  the  darksome  street? 
It  may  be  ye'd  see  in  the  gloaming 

The  print  of  My  wounded  feet. 

Have  ye  wept  with  the  broken-hearted 

In  their  agony  of  woe? 
Ye  might  hear  Me  whispering  beside  you 

' '  JTis  the  pathway  I  often  go ! ' ' 
My  brethren,  My  friends,  My  disciples, 

Can  ye  dare  to  follow  me? 
Then,   wherever   the   Master   dwelleth, 

There  shall   the   servant   be!" 

Many  are  the  shocking  sights  and  sad  experiences  I  have 
witnessed  in  street  and  slum  work.  I  have  endured  hard- 
ships and  privations,  suffered  arrests  and  ridicule,  and  faced 
many  dangers.  But  withal,  the  glorious  victories  have  been 
many  and  precious  souls  have  been  saved : 

I  might  give  copies  of  many  permits  to  hold  open  air 
services  received  in  the  earlier  years  of  my  labors,  but  per- 
haps these  would  not  be  of  interest  or  profit,  so  I  give 
only  a  few. 

PERMIT  TO  PREACH  ON  BOSTON  COMMON. 
CITY   OF  BOSTON,   EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT. 

Under  Chapter  42,  Section  11,  of  the  Revised  Ordinances,  permis- 
sion is  hereby  granted  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wheaton,  to  conduct  preach- 
ing service  on  the  Common  on  Sunday,  October  27,  1889,  subject  to 
the  directions  of  the  Superintendent  of  the  Common,  who  will  assign 
a  location.  THOMAS  NAST,  Mayor. 

October  22,  1889. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  329 

STATE  Or  LOUISIANA,    MAYORALTY   OF    NEW    ORLEANS. 

City  Hall,  llth  day  of  December,  1886. 

Permission  granted  to  Elizabeth  Wheaton  and  Agnes  Hill  to  preach 
the  gospel  at  such  localities  within  the  city  of  New  Orleans  as  they 
may  select;  provided  that  in  so  doing  they  are  careful  not  to  inter- 
fere with  the  private  rights  of  individuals  or  those  of  corporations 
granted  them  under  municipal  ordinances  or  the  statutes  of  this 
state.  By  order  of  the  Mayor. 

E.  L.  BOWER,  Chief  Clerk. 

MAYOR'S  OFFICE. 

Jacksonville,  Fla.,  December  29,  1886. 

Permission  is  hereby  granted  E.  Wheaton  and  associates  to  preach 
the  gospel  within  the  city  limits  at  such  places  as  they  may  select; 
provided  the  streets  and  sidewalks  are  not  obstructed  and  the  rights 
of  private  property  are  not  disturbed  and  there  is  no  violation  of  City 
ordinances  or  statutes  of  the  State.  P.  McQuAm,  Mayor. 


Galveston,  Tex.,  Jan.  20,  1888. 
To  Whom   It  May  Concern: 

Permission  is  hereby  granted  to  the  bearer  to  hold  religious 
services  on  the  streets  anywhere  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the 
city  of  Galvestoa,  and  the  police  authorities  will  lend  such  pro- 
tection as  is  necessary  to  enforce  order  at  such  meetings. 

R.  L.  FULTON,  Mayor  of  Galveston. 


Office  of  Chief  of  Police, 
Denver,  Colo.,  June  23,  1888. 
To  any  Police  Officer: 

This  woman  has  permission  from  the  Mayor  to  hold  services  on 
the  street.  M.  HENNY,  Chief  of  Police. 

Sacramento,  Cal.,  Aug.  24,  1888. 

Permission  is  hereby  granted  E.  Wheaton  and  associates  to 
preach  the  gospel  within  the  city  limits  at  such  places  as  they 
may  select,  provided  the  streets  and  sidewalks  are  not  obstructed 
and  rights  of  private  property  are  not  disturbed,  and  if  not  in 
conflict  or  violation  of  the  city  ordinances. 

EUGENE  J.  GREGORY,  Mayor. 


330 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 


FROM    MISS   JOSEPHINE   COWGILL. 
Some  Years  a  Missionary  in  Jerusalem. 

The  following  is  contributed  by  a  dear  sister  who  has 
spent  some  years  as  a  missionary  in  Jerusalem,  Palestine, 
and  may  be  known  to  many  of  our  readers : 


MISS   JOSEPHINE  COWGILL. 

Many  years  ago,  while  engaged  in  missionary  work  in  the  city 
of  Nfcw  Orleans,  La.,  I  was  one  evening  attracted  by  a  large  gath- 
ering of  people.  In  the  midst  was  a  woman  kneeling  on  the  ground 
engaged  in  most  earnest  prayer.  Many  in  the  company  were  of 
the  worst  class  .  of  people,  yet  they  were  quietly  listening  and 
looking  on  with  amazement.  We  were  not  accustomed  to  any  one 
praying  on  the  streets  in  that  manner.  This  was  the  first  time 
I  had  the  privilege  of  meeting  dear  Sister  E.  R.  Wheaton.  I  can 
never  forget  the  impressions  made  upon  myself  and  others  by  her 


OR   A   LABOR   OF   LOVE  331 

prayers,  exhortations  and  songs  that  evening.  Standing  near  me 
in  that  company  was  a  woman  who  had  charge  of  one  of  the 
worst  houses  of  prostitution  in  the  city.  Trembling  and  weeping 
she  said  to  me  "I  never  heard  anything  like  that  before.  That 
woman  makes  me  feel  that  I  am  an  awful  sinner,  and  yet  she 
loves  me."  That  poor  woman  went  to  her  house,  sent  for  a  Bible 
and  read  it  and  spent  the  night  in  bitter  repenting  for  her  sins. 
She  was  gloriously  converted  and  then  called  her  household  to- 
gether and  told  them  her  experience  and  how  the  Lord  had  par- 
doned her  sins  and  made  her  happy  in  His  love.  She  then  ex- 
horted them  to  commence  a  new  life;  but  if  they  would  not,  then 
they  must  leave  her  house. 

While  in  New  Orleans,  Sister  Wheaton  and  those  in  company 
with  her  were  busily  and  successfully  engaged  in  mission  work 
among  prisoners  and  others  of  the  worst  class.  Some  years  after- 
ward she  again  visited  that  city  and  the  Lord  greatly  blessed 
her  work.  One  night,  on  a  store-box  in  front  of  a  saloon,  she 
preached  to  a  large  crowd.  The  saloonkeeper  became  very  uneasy 
and  called  a  policeman  to  'Hake  her  away."  He  came,  but  found 
it  quite  hard  work  to  get  her  down  and  to  another  place.  The 
people  wanted  to  hear  her.  She  sang  a  song,  the  chorus  of  which 
was,  in  part: 

"If  to  Jesus  you  are  true, 
There's  a  glory  waits  for  you, 

In  the  beautiful,  the  glad  forever." 

Then  with  clasped  hands  she  stood  quietly  gazing  upward,  with 
tears  rolling  down  her  cheeks.  Then  with  much  feeling  she  said: 
"I  am  homesick  for  heaven."  I  can  never  forget  how  those 
words  impressed  me  and  others  at  that  time. 

Some  years  after  I  again  met  Sister  Wheaton  in  Los  Angeles, 
California,  where  her  work  was  like  it  had  been  in  New  Orleans. 
At  one  time,  when  she  had  kindly  offered  me  the  privilege  of 
going  with  her  to  some  other  points,  I  made  inquiry  about  how  I 
should  take  my  trunk.  She  replied:  " Sister  Josephine,  pilgrims 
for  God  do  not  need  a  trunk.  One  valise  is  enough."  Many  times 
I  have  thought  of  that  reply  and  the  good  it  did  me.  I  have 
never  known  of  a  more  earnest  and  self-sacrificing  Christian  worker 
than  Sister  Wheaton.  The  results  of  her  labors  as  she  has  gone 
forth  " weeping  and  bearing  precious  seeds,"  cannot  be  fully 


332  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

known    until   with    rejoicing   she    comes    ''bringing    sheaves    with 
her."     In  loving  remembrance  of  her,  I  am, 

Yours  in  His  blessed  service. 

JOSEPHINE  COWGILL. 
Haifo,  Palestine. 

MY  FIRST  STREET   MEETING. 

My  first  street  meeting  was  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  near 
the  old  postoffice.  I  -had  spent  the  day  in  the  jail,  alms- 
house  and  hospitals.  I  was  then  a  stranger  in  the  city. 
Some  one  asked  me  to  go  to  a  hall  where  there  was  a  little 
mission.  We  did  so,  and  found  they  had  gone  to  the  open 
air  meeting.  When  we  .arrived  the  meeting  was  in  prog- 
ress, one  after  another  stepping  out  to  testify  or  sing.  No 
opportunity  was  offered  me  to  take  any  part  in  the  meet- 
ing, as  no  woman  was  allowed  to  testify.  I  looked  to  God 
in  silent  prayer  to  open  some  way  for  me  to  speak  to  the 
people.  At  the  close  of  their  service  I  spoke,  saying,  "The 
Lord  has  sent  me  ^yith  a  message  for  you  dear  people,  and 
now  the  friends  have  closed  their  meeting  and  we  will  not 
detain  them,  as  they  doubtless  have  other  engagements." 
I  began  to  sing  and  God  rilled  my  soul  with  glory.  The 
needs  of  those  poor  hungry  souls  rose  before  me,  as  I  sang 
and  prayed,  and  the  message  of  love  came  welling  up  in  my 
soul.  I  spoke  to  them  of  righteousness,  the  coming  Judg- 
ment and  eternity.  I  had  held  meetings  in  many  of  the 
principal  cities  of  America,  some  in  Europe  and  other 
countries.  But  that  night  God  anointed  me  for  street 
preaching  and  for  work  in  slums,  dives  and  saloons. 

Closing  the  meeting,  I  thought  of  being  alone  on  the 
street  at  night  with  scarcely  any  money  and  not  knowing 
my  way  back  to  my  lodging  place.  I  said,  "Oh,  Lord,  you 
know  all  about  it."  Walking  along  I  came  to  the  mission 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  333 

and  stepping  in  I  took  a  seat  near  the  door.  While  I  sat 
praying,  a  brother  rose  and  told  the  circumstances  of  the 
street  meeting  I  had  held,  and  that  one  of  the  worst  men  in 
the  city  had  been  converted  through  its  instrumentality. 
The  man  had  told  the  brother  that  God  had  saved  him  and 
he  was  going  home  to  write  eight  letters  to  his  people,  some 
of  them  in  this  and  some  in  the  old  country,  to  tell  them 
what  great  things  God  had  done  for  him.  God  knew  I 
was  there  and  sent  the  message  to  encourage  me.  After 
the  service  in  the  hall  had  closed  a  young  lady  who  proved 
to  be  the  daughter  of  the  landlady  where  I  had  been  staying, 
came  to  me  and  walked  to  her  home  with  me.  I  could  not 
have  found  my  way  alone,  not  having  their  number,  but 
God  cared  for  me. 

Some  extracts  are  given  from  reports  of  the  work  which 
were  published  at  different  points  during  the  first  few  years 
of  my  labors: 

CONTESTED  TO  CHRIST. 

THE  CASE  OF  THE  UNFORTUNATE  WOMAN— CARD   FROM   MR.   M. 

Editor  Hawk-Eye:  Last  evening  at  about  seven  o'clock  Mrs. 
Wheaton,  the  prison  evangelist,  and  another  lady  of  the  evan- 
gelists and  myself  held  a  meeting  on  the  levee.  Mrs.  Wheaton,  who 
spoke  on  the  future  consequence  of  sin  with  unusual  earnestness, 
had  the  effect  of  breaking  down  Mrs.  A.  into  tears.  Mrs.  Wheaton 
went  up  to  her  and  spoke  to  her.  In  a  few  moments  the  unfortu- 
nate woman  broke  into  ecstasies  of  joy  and  commenced  to  leap 
around  in  a  circle.  For  ten  minutes  she  kept  up  praising  God  and 
leaping,  when  suddenly  she  leaped  through  the  great  crowd  around, 
some  now  being  horrified,  who,  like  many  poor,  unfortunate  peo- 
ple, never  saw  a  sudden  conversion.  She  ran  up  Jefferson  street, 
where  she  was  arrested  and  locked  up. 

Had  the  woman  been  rich  or  popular  she  would  have  been  kindly 
treated,  but  being  one  of  the  unfortunate  women  of  our  city  she 
was  locked  up  in  an  unclean,  old  filthy  cell,  with  a  bunk  for  a  bed. 
The  police  were  informed  that  the  woman  was  converted  and  a 


334  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

lady  offered  to  take  her  home  last  night.  But  they  kept  her  in 
that  terrible  cell  with  inmates  in  adjoining  cells  using  obscene  lan- 
guage. It  is  a  sin  and  disgrace  for  the  city  fathers  to  continue  to 
have  women  locked  up  with  men  in  the  same  line  of  cells  with 
such  a  horrifying  stench  and  wooden  bunks.  The  city  police  are 
guilty  of  an  outrageous  act  in  confining  the  woman  in  such  a 
cell,  when  they  ought  to  have  given  her  better  quarters,  as  they 
had  the  opportunity.  This  morning  she  was  brought  out  before 
the  police  court;  the  woman  still  testified  that  she  had  salvation 
before  that  court  and  crowd  of  people.  But  good  came  out  of  it 
all  as  she  witnessed  a  grand  confession  to  the  police  court  and 
people  who  never  heard  the  gospel.  She  was,  by  the  consent  of 
Captain  S.,  taken  to  Mrs.  H.  's  and  is  doing  well  and  is  converted. 
Last  evening's  Gazette  stated  that  the  woman  went  crazy  by  at- 
tending the  street  meetings  and  would  be  examined  before  the 
board  of  commissioners  of  insanity,  which  is  every  word  of  it  un- 
true. The  woman  is  sane  and  was  not  before  any  board. 

A.  H.  MERTZ,  in  Burlington  Hawk-Eye,  Jan.  19,  1887. 

A    WONDERFUL    CONVERSION. 

In  San  Francisco  a  drunken  girl  came  to  my  meeting  on 
the  street  so  desperate  and  dangerous  that  even  the  police 
at  times  seemed  afraid  of  her.  She  seemed  to  be  a  veritable 
Magdalene.  I  was  impressed  with  the  words,  "Down  in 
the  human  heart,  crushed  by  the  tempter,  feelings  lie  buried 
that  grace  can  restore."  How  could  it  be  done?  I  dealt 
faithfully  with  her  and  went  away,  returning  to  the  city* 
ten  months  later.  She  came  again  to  my  meetings,  once 
very  drunk  as  she  usually  was.  I  talked  to  her  about  her 
need  of  salvation  and  she  was  finally  convicted.  She  waited 
at  the  close  of  the  meeting  to  speak  with  me,  but  at  first 
would  not  yield  to  God.  Finally  ^he  sobered  up  and  was 
wonderfully  converted.  I  took  her  to  my  room  and  cared 
for  her,  and  as  she  was  a  desperate  character,  and  liable  to 
do  injury  both  to  life  and  property,  the  Rescue  Home  at 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  335 

San  Francisco  refused  to  take  her,  so  I  took  all  the  risks 
myself  and  took  her  to  Helena,  Montana,  and  left  her  at 
the  Rescue  Home  at  that  place. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  work  in  Seattle  soon  after 
this  as  reported  by  a  paper  of  that  city: 

THE  PKISON  EVANGELIST. 

MRS.     ELIZABETH     R.     WHEATON     CARRYING     FORWARD     HER    MISSION    IN 

SEATTLE. 

About  three  o'clock  yesterday  afternoon  two  women,  one  quite 
elderly  and  the  other  about  25  years  of  age,  whose  dress  and  de- 
meanor bespoke  them  to  be  missionaries,  walked  into  the  sheriff's 
office  and  asked  Jailer  Leckie  if  they  might  hold  a  short  religious 
service  in  the  county  jail.  The  urbane  jailor  replied  that  he 
thought  "a  little  prayin'  wouldn't  do  them  coves  any  harm,"  but 
they  were  eating  and  couldn't  be  interrupted  for  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes. 

"Then  we'll  wait,"  said  Mrs.  Wheaton,  laying  her  black  shawl 
aside  and  taking  a  seat,  in  which  she  was  followed  by  her  sister 
evangelist. 

"Perhaps  you  would  like  to  know  who  we  are,"  said  the  elder 
of  the  two  women  to  a  reporter  who  happened  to  be  present.  "Here 
is  my  card,"  and  she  handed  over  a  small  piece  of  pasteboard  on 
which  was  printed  with  a  rubber  stamp,  "Elizabeth  K.  Wheaton, 
Prison  Evangelist.  Jesus  is  Coming  Soon;  Prepare  to  Meet  Thy 
God." 

"That  will  tell  who  I  am,"  continued  the  evangelist.  .  .  . 
' '  Criminals  and  fallen  women  are  the  ones  I  try  to  reach.  I  would 
rather  try  to  save  a  murderer  or  fallen  woman  than  your  smooth, 
respectable  hypocrites,  every  time.  Mary  and  I  have  just  come 
through  from  san  Francisco. "  *  *  * 

At  this  moment  Jailer  Leckie  announced  that  the  prisoners  were 
through  eating,  and  the  two  women  went  below  to  pray  with  them. 
The  younger  woman  held  back,  saying  that  she  was  afraid  some 
of  her  old  associates  might  be  there,  but  she  was  urged  on  by  her 
protector  and  a  few  minutes  later  the  words  of  "Nearer  My  God 
to  Thee,"  from  two  female  voices,  came  floating  through  the 
prison  bars.  The  prisoners  gave  them  respectful  hearing,  and  one 


336  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

or  two  seemed  to  be  affected  by  the  earnest  words  of  counsel  that 
fell  from  the  lips  of  the  evangelist.  Later  in  the  evening  they  held 
street  services  for  the  benefit  of  the  workingmen  near  the  Armory 
and  relief  tents. 

BECAME   A    PREACHER. 

One  of  the  worst  women  I  ever  knew  was  converted  in 
the  spring  of  1885  on  the  streets  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  where 
I  was  holding  meetings.  She  came  to  the  meeting  to  abuse 
and  ridicule  me.  She  heard  my  voice,  she  said,  two  blocks 
away,  and  became  convicted.  She  came  to  where  I  was 
standing  on  a  box  preaching.  I  asked  if  there  was  any  one 
there  who  would  seek  God  and  live  a  Christian  life.  I  said 
if  there  was  one  such,  let  them  come  and  kneel  with  me  by 
the  box  and  I.  would  pray  for  them.  She  knelt  there  and 
cried  mightily  to  God  for  mercy.  But  she  went  away  un- 
saved and  prayed  and  wept  day  and  night.  She  could 
neither  eat  nor  sleep.  She  saw  herself  a  lost  sinner.  Her 
father  had  been  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  but  had  died  when 
she  was  very  young.  She  had  drifted  to  this  wicked  city 
in  search  of  work,  and  you  may  know  the  rest.  For  it  is 
but  the  story  of  many  a  poor  orphan  girl  in  her  struggle  for 
bread.  She  fell  as  thousands  fall  with  none  to  pity  or  care. 
She  was  driven  from  one  sin  to  another,  until  at  last  dis- 
graced and  filled  with  shame,  she  had  tried  twelve  times  to 
take  her  own  life.  Thus  I  found  her  a  miserable  woman. 
She  came  again  to  the  meeting,  this  time  alone,  and  was 
gloriously  saved,  and  is  still  saved  so  far  as  I  know.  She 
became  a  successful  preacher  of  righteousness,  for  she 
knew  how  to  reach  such  as  she  had  been.  She  became  a. 
terror  to  evil  doers,  brave  in  danger,  and  hopeful  before  dis- 
couraging obstacles.  She  has  since  told  me  she  has  saved 
many  young  girls'  lives  and  characters  by  taking  them  in 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  337 

and  giving  them  food  and  shelter  when  every  other  door 
except  brothels  and  saloons  was  closed  against  them.  Bless 
God  for  the  homes  open  to  shelter  and  protect  the  unforttn 
nate  girls. 

THE    BLIND    ENCOURAGED. 

One  day  while  traveling  in  Montana,  I  went  into  a  smok- 
ing car  to  hold  a  little  Gospel  meeting,  singing  and  distribut- 
ing tracts,  when  I  found  a  blind  lady  there  who  seemed  to 
be  alone  and  neglected.  I  spoke  to  her  kindly  about  her 
soul  and  invited  her  to  go  with  me  into  the  other  car.  I 
said,  "I  am  always  glad  to  do  anything  I  can  to  help  a  blind 
person.  My  grandmother  was  blind  several  years  before  her 
death.-"  She  accepted  it  all  gratefully  and  seemed  very  sorry 
to  part  from  me  when  we  changed  cars.  I  exhorted  her  to 
a  life  of  Christian  service  and. to  meet  me  in  Heaven. 

I  never  expected  to  meet  her  again,  but  some  two  years 
later  I  was  holding  an  open  air  meeting  in  California  and 
a  lady  said,  "Would  you  allow  me  to  testify?"  and  I  said, 
"Certainly,  if  you  are  a  Christian.  Would  be  glad  to  have 
you."  When  she  began  to  speak  she  said :  "This  lady  don't 
know  me,  but  I  know  her.  We  met  once.  Although  I  have 
never  seen  her,  as  I  am  deprived  of  sight,  yet  I  know  her. 
I  met  with  her  on  the  train  one  day,"  and  she  related  the 
foregoing  facts,  stating  that  my  kindness  had  won  her  heart 
and  she  had  never  forgotten  my  advice,  and  was  now  living 
a  Christian  life. 

FORBIDDEN  TO  PREACH  ON  THE  STREET. 

One  night  when  I  attempted  to  hold  a  street  meeting  in 

F ,  California — where  I  had  been  holding  services  for  a 

few  nights — the  marshal  said  he  had  forbidden  me  to  preach 
and  sing  on  the  streets.  A  gentleman  looked  up  the  law 
books  and  returned  saying  that  it  was  not  contrary  to  the 


338  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

laws  of  that  city  at  that  time  to  hold  a  gospel  meeting  on 
the  street  and  that  I  could  proceed,  but  the  marshal  came 
and  forbade  me,  very  unkindly  and  impolitely.  At  this 
crisis  a  gentleman  came  up  and  said  that  a  saloon  keeper 
down  the  street  requested  me  to  come  and  hold  a  meeting 
in  front  of  his  place.  I  said:  "A  gentleman  has  requested 
that  we  come  and  hold  a  meeting  in  front  of  his  business 
place.  We  will  go  there,  please,"  but  the  marshal  in  a  very 
ungentlemanly  way  said  I  was  not  to  hold  a  meeting  on  the 
street  any  place  in  that  city. 

I  said  we  would  go  to  a  hall  which  had  been  opened  for 
gospel  services.  It  was  several  blocks  away  and  only  a 
few  of  the  immense  crowd  would  walk  that  distance.  When 
I  reached  the  place  I  sat  down  behind  the  door  and  cried 
and  thought,  what  shall  I  do?  I  was  sure  the  Lord  wanted 
me  to  hold  a  meeting  on  the  street.  The  blind  lady  men- 
tioned in  the  previous  incident  was  in  the  congregation  and 
began  to  sing,  "He  is  able  to  deliver  thee,"  and  I  soon  had 
the  victory.  The  same  sister  had  attempted  to  sing  on  the 
street,  as  this  was  her  only  means  of  supporting  her  ola 
mother  and  sickly  husband,  and  the  marshal  came  along 
and  without  any  warning  pushed  her  off  the  street.  A 
couple  of  strange  gentlemen  came  and  kindly  led  her  to  a 
place  of  safety.  I  heard  soon  after  this  that  this  man  be- 
came suddenly  insane  and  it  took  two  men  to  hold  him  and 
take  him  to  the  jail  and  from  there  to  the  insane  asylum. 

THOUGHT   THEY   SAW   A    GHOST. 

Once,  in  a  city,  another  lady  and  myself  were  walking 
along  a  very  lonesome  street  late  at  night.  When  passing  a 
large  dark  building  she  remarked  that  it  was  a  very  dan- 
gerous gambling  den.  My  heart  burned  within  me.  I  was 
seized  with  an  impulse  to  go  in  that  place  of  iniquity  and 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  339 

warn  those  men  of  their  souls'  danger.  No  sooner  thought 
than  done !  I  was  soon  in  the  room  which  proved  to  be  va- 
cant, but  I  could  see  light  through  the  cracks  of  a  closed 
door  leading  into  the  next  room.  I  passed  quietly  across 
the  room  and  opened  the  door  and  stood  confronting  a  num- 
ber of  rough  looking  men  who  were  seated  at  a  long  gam- 
bling table.  Without  a  word  I  crossed  the  room  with  noise- 
less footsteps  and  dropping  my  Bible  on  the  table  and  fall- 
ing on  my  knees  before  them  began  to  cry  to  God  in  their 
behalf.  The  men  seemed  to  take  an  unexpected  view  of  the 
situation,  and  rising  simultaneously  to  their  feet,  they 
rushed  wildly  from  the  room  upsetting  their  chairs  in  their 
haste,  and  I  was  left  alone.  The  next  day  the  report  went 
out  that  a  ghost  had  been  seen  there  the  night  before,  and 
some  of  the  men  vowed  they  would  never  touch  a  pack  of 
cards  again  as  long  as  they  lived — that  money  could  not 
hire  them  to  do  it.  Truly  "The  wicked  flee  whwa  no  man 
pursueth." 

HURT  BY  A  SALOONKEEPER. 

While  I  was  at  Springfield,  111.,  I  was  led  one  Sabbath  to 
go  to  the  park  to  hold  a  ^gospel  meeting,  taking  two  sisters 
with  me.  We  had  a  good  meeting,  and  returning  to  the 
city  I  asked  the  street  car  conductor  if  there  was  another 
park  where  I  could  hold  services.  He  directed  me  to  a 
place  in  another  suburb.  We  went  there,  and  in  a  grove  I 
saw  some  tables  and  men  and  women  sitting  at  them, 
drinking.  I  began  to  sing  a  hymn,  thinking  we  were  in  a 
public  park,  when  a  man  rushed  out  of  a  house  toward  me, 
saying,  "You  shan't  sing  here."  I  said,  "Please  let  me  fin- 
ish this  verse."  He  replied,  "No,  I  won't  allow  any  one  to 
sing  here."  I  knelt  in  prayer.  He  did  not  say  I  should  not 


340  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

pray.  The  sisters  were  looking  at  him,  and  said  he  hurried 
toward  me  in  great  anger.  The  sisters  prayed  to  God  to 
spare  me.  The  man  jerked  me  and  pushed  me  over,  when 
some  of  the  men  at  the  tables  called  out  to  him,  "Let  go  of 
that  woman.  You  don't  know  who  she  is.  We  know  her." 
The  men  in  the  meantime  running  to  us,  laid  hold  on  the 
saloonkeeper  and  took  him  away.  I  was  very  much  hurt. 
I  could  not  walk  alone.  The  park  proved  to  be  a  beer 
garden.  We  went  to  the  nearest  house  and  asked  permis- 
sion to  rest  till  I  should  gain  strength  to  return  to  the  city. 
The  people  where  we  stopped  were  very  indignant,  and 
said  the  man  had  no  license  to  sell  liquor  on  Sunday,  and 
was  violating  the  city  ordinance.  There  were  no  arrests. 
The  whisky  men  must  have  their  own  way  in  this  land  of 
American  liberty.  They  can  ruin  lives,  break  up  homes, 
blight  the  prospects  of  the  best  people  on  earth  and  fill  the 
prisons,  almshouses,  criminal  insane  asylums,  brothels, 
graves  of  paupers,  and  doom  souls  by  the  multitude,  and 
who  cares  ?  Who  votes  to  put  down  the  saloons  ?  Who  tries 
to  save  mothers'  girls  as  well  as  mothers'  boys,  husbands 
and  wives?  Even  the  parents  are  overtaken  by  the  demon 
of  strong  drink  and  sink  into  the  most  depraved  conditions 
in  order  to  satisfy  their  craving  for  alcohol.  O,  the  awful- 
ness  of  it  all!  Sisters,  brothers,  are  you  and  I  clear?  Are 
we  doing  our  best  to  stop  this  horrible  traffic  in  whisky  and 
girls,  for  one  of  these  places  can  scarcely  exist  without  the 
other.  How  many  girls  and  boys  are  sacrificed  yearly  to 
fill  the  saloonkeepers'  coffers  and  fill  up  hell?  Think  of 
these  things. 

WARNED  TO  LEAVE  THE  CITY. 

Upon   entering  a   town   in    Mississippi    I   inquired   of  a 
woman  if  she  could  direct  me  to  a  hotel,  and  she  told  me  her 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  341 

sister  and  her  husband  kept  one  and  I  would  be  made  com- 
fortable with  them. 

We  went  to  the  hotel  and  left  our  luggage  and  went  at 
once  to  hold  an  open  air  meeting.  The  singing  attracted  a 
considerable  crowd,  and  at  the  close  of  the  service  many 
came  to  shake  hands  with  me  and  thank  me  for  the  meeting, 
among  whom  were  a  number  of  colored  people,  who  thanked 
the  Lord  in  their  characteristic  way  and  asked  me  to  preach 
again  which  I  agreed  to  do  that  night. 

As  we  turned  our  steps  toward  our  hotel,  we  noticed  a 
colored  man  walking  a  short  distance  ahead  of  us  who, 
when  we  were  out  of  hearing  of  the  crowd,  turned  and  said 
to  us :  "You  women  don't  intend  to  hold  another  meeting  on 
the  street  to-night?"  and  I  said,  "Certainly,  I  shall  obey 
God."  He  said,  "You  have  shaken  hands  with  the  colored 
people  and  the  white  people  are  angry,  and  they  will  mob 
you.  I  came  along  here  for  the  purpose  of  warning  you. 
If  they  saw  me  talking  with  you  my  life  would  be  in  dan- 
ger." I  told  him  I  was  not  afraid,  thanked  him  and  told 
him  I  would  do  as  the  Lord  led. 

On  reaching  our  hotel  the  landlord  asked  if  I  intended  to 
hold  another  meeting  on  the  street  that  night,  and  I  told  him 
I  did.  He  said  that  the  townspeople  had  forbidden  me  to 
hold  another  service  and  that  I  would  have  to  leave  his  ho- 
tel at  once,  because  I  had  shaken  hands  with  the  colored 
people.  We  told  him  we  had  made  the  appointment  and 
we  should  keep  pur  word.  He  went  to  his  wife  and  told 
her  to  go  and  tell  those  women  to  leave  the  house  and  take 
the  train,  as  we  had  associated  with  the  colored  people  and 
the  white  people  would  not  allow  us  to  remain  in  town.  She 
replied  that  we  had  paid  our  money  and  our  money  was  as 


342  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

good  as  anybody's,  and  that  we  were  respectable,  honest 
women  and  she  was  going  to  treat  us  as  such. 

When  we  went  down  the  street  we  heard  a  noise  as  of  a 
mob,  and  we  went  praying  the  Lord  to  show  us  what  to  do, 
and  He  showed  us  our  life  was  in  danger  and  to  step  one 
side  into  the  colored  people's  church  where  God's  presence 
was  revealed  in  mighty  power  and  souls  were  convicted  and 
converted. 

In  the  morning  two  colored  women  called  upon  me,  say- 
ing they  had  come  to  warn  me  and  assist  me  to  the  train. 
One  of  them  said  that  two  nights  before  she  had  a  terrible 
dream  about  a  woman  coming  to  preach  on  the  streets  and 
was  so  impressed  that  she  sent  her  husband  four  miles  to  see 
if  there  was  anything  in  it.  This  was  the  man  that  warned 
us  that  night.  When  he  went  home  and  told  her  what  he 
had  seen  and  heard,  she  dreamed  again  and  the  Lord  told 
her  to  come  and  help  us  out  of  town,  as  the  people  would 
take  my  life.  They  carried  our  luggage  and  showed  us  to 
the  train  and  got  us  safely  on  board,  and  with  a  "God  bless 
you,  Honey,  we's  prayin'  for  you,"  they  were  gone,  and  we 
went  on  our  way  with  thankful  hearts  for  our  Lord's  pro- 
tecting care. 

IN   JAIL. 

I  have  several  times  been  arrested  for  holding  services  in 
the  open  air,  but  have  been  taken  to  prison  but  twice — once 
in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  as  related  elsewhere,  and  once  in 
Belleville,  Illinois. 

In  1889,  Sister  Anna  Kinne  wrote  me  from  Belleville  that 
they  were  holding  meetings  at  that  place,  but  had  seen  but 
little  stir,  that  it  seemed  to  be  a  hard  field,  and  that  she  be- 
lieved the  Lord  wanted  me  to  come  and  help  them  in  the 
meetings.  I  was,  at  the  time,  in  Mississippi,  but  after  pray- 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  343 

ing  over  the  matter  I  felt  that  I  should  go  to  Belleville  in 
answer  to  her  request. 

The  first  Sabbath  after  reaching  there  I  tried  to  hold  ser- 
vices in  the  open  air,  but  was  stopped  by  policemen.  I  tried 
again  with  the  same  results.  Then  I  went  to  the  mayor,  but 
was  refused  permission  to  hold  any  such  meetings.  When 
I  asked  him  if  he  would  take  the  responsibility  on  the  day 
of  judgment,  he  said,  "Yes."  I  then  went  to  the  jail  and 
held  services,  and  the  sheriff  kindly  inquired  about  my  work 
and  showed  considerable  interest,  and  took  down  some 
notes.  I  then  asked  hini  for  permission  to  hold  meetings 
on  the  court  house  steps.  This  was  readily  granted,  and  I 
took  Sister  Kinne  with  me.  The  marshal  of  the  town  had 
bitterly  opposed  my  work,  and  while  we  were  singing  he 
very  rudely  and  unceremoniously  came  and  took  me  by  the 
arm  and  dragged  me  down  from  the  steps. 

I  told  him  that  the  sheriff  had  given  me  permission  to 
hold  services,  but  he  was  very  angry  and  refused  to  let  me 
go  on. 

I  said  to  those  who  had  gathered,  "We  will  have  no  open 
air  meeting,  but  come  to  Buchanan  Hall  to-night,  and  we 
will  have  a  meeting  there." 

I  think  it  was  the  following  night  that  I  was  impressed 
just  before  the  opening  of  our  services,  to  sing  a  hymn, 
standing  in  the  mission  door.  I  spoke  to  Sister  Kinne  of 
this  and  she  said,  "God  bless  you,  Sister  Wheaton,  I  will 
pray  for  you/' 

I  went  quietly  down  to  the  door  and  was  standing  there 
singing  an  old-time  hymn,  when  out  of  the  darkness  there 
came  two  policemen.  Without  saying  a  word  they  took 
hold  of  me  and  dragged  me  along  the  street.  I  had  no  bon- 
net on,  and  my  shawl  was  dragging  along  in  the  mud.  I 


344  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

said,  "Please  let  me  get  my  shawl,  and  will  you  please  let 
me  ask  one  of  the  ladies  at  the  mission  to  go  with  me  ?"  But 
they  refused  and  seemed  glad  to  think  that  I  was  being  dis: 
graced.  As  I  met  two  or  three  Christian  people,  one  of 
them  spoke  kindly  to  me  and  I  replied  that  I  was  suffering 
for  Jesus'  sake.  "You  seem  to  be  well  acquainted  with  the 
men,"  one  of  the  policemen  said.  "No,"  I  said,  "only  with  a 
few  Christians." 

When  we  arrived  at  police  headquarters  they  gave  in  the 
report  that  I  was  on  the  street  holding  a  meeting  and  was 
having  a  row,  etc.,  which  was,  of  course,  utterly  false. 

I  was,  of  course,  surprised  at  the  treatment  I  was  receiv- 
ing. I  opened  my  Bible,  which  I  still  held,  and  began  read- 
ing in  silence.  The  officer  said,  "Are  you  making  all  of 
this  ado  and  trouble?"  I  replied,  "I  was  standing  in  our 
mission  door  singing."  He  said,  "Will  you  give  bail  for 
your  good  behavior?"  I  said,  "I  have  no  money  for  bail." 
Then  he  asked  me  if  I  had  no  friends.  I  told  him  I  was  a 
stranger  in  the  city.  "Then,"  he  said,  "I  will  have  to  send 
you  to  jail,  or  what  will  you  do?"  I  said  I  did  not  know. 
He  then  told  another  policeman  to  take  me  to  the  jail  across 
the  square,  and  only  a  few  blocks  away.  This  policeman 
said  to  some  boys  who  were  standing  outside,  "You  boys 
stay  here,  we  do  not  want  a  mob."  But  the  marshal  said, 
"Go  along  boys.  She  wants  notoriety — give  it  to  her." 
And  so  I  went  to  the  jail  with  a  mob  crying  after  me. 

Arriving  at  the  jail  the  kind  jailor  was  shocked  to  see  me 
in  the  officer's  charge,  and  said,  "You  are  not  a  prisoner  ?" 
I  said,  "Yes,  I  was  singing  in  our  mission  door,  but  they 
arrested  me."  His  wife  came  in  and  kindly  said,  "Come 
into  the  parlor,  and  I  will  make  ready  for  you  the  spare 
bedroom."  I  was,  of  course,  surprised  and  deeply  touched. 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  345 

"No,  indeed,"  I  said,  "I  am  a  prisoner.  Take  me  into  the 
cell  with  the  other  women."  Her  little  daughter  came  in 
and  knelt  down  by  my  side  and  kissed  my  hand,  saying  how 
very  sorry  she  was  for  me.  It  was  on  a  Christmas  eve,  and 
the  child  was  going  to  the  Christmas  tree. 

Soon  the  sheriff  came  in  in  a  hurry  and  said,  "You  are  a 
free  woman !"  He,  finding  I  had  been  arrested,  had  notified 
friends  who  had  given  bail  and  secured  my  release.  Not 
understanding  the  sheriff,  I  said,  "No,  I  am  here  in  dis- 
grace, and  I  want  you  to  put  me  in  the  woman's  cell."  But 
he  insisted  that  I  was  free.  Then  I  said,  "They  have  put 
me  here  in  disgrace,  and  I  want  some  one  to  come  and  take 
me  to  our  mission,  as  it  is  dark."  They  then"  sent  for  some- 
one to  come  for  me,  and  such  a  shout  as  went  up  when  I 
again  entered  the  mission  hall.  One  good  old  Christian 
friend  said,  "I  told  you  that  if  she  was  a  woman  of  God,  and 
I  knew  she  was,  she  would  return  to  the  hall  before  the 
meeting  was  over." 

It  seems  that  a  reporter  who  was  at  the  police  station  at 
the  time  of  my  arrest  and  heard  the  abuse  of  the  officers 
had  hurried  to  the  sheriff's  office,  and  he,  as  I  have  said,  had 
secured  my  release. 

We  give  here  a  verbatim  copy  of  the  paper  signed  by 
friends,  the  original  of  which  I  still  have  in  my  possession. 
Somehow  the  case  was  dismissed,  and  I  was  never  brought 
to  trial: 

VERBATIM  COPY  OF  A  RECOGNIZANCE. 

(12th,  24th,  1899.) 
State  of  Illinois,  St.  Clair  County,  ss. 

This  day  personaly  appeared  before  the  undersigned,  William 
Bornmann,  one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  and  for  said  County, 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton,  James  West  and  Wm.  Meyer,  and  jointly  and 
severally  acknowledged  themselves  to  owe  and  be  indebted  unto  the 


34^  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  in  the  sum  of  Twenty-five  Dollars, 
to  be  levied  on  their  goods  and  chattels,  lands  and  tenements,  if  de- 
fault be  made  in  the  premises  and  conditions  below,  to-wit: 

Whereas,  The  above  bounden,  Elizabeth  E.  Wheaton,  was,  on 
the  24th  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1889,  arrested  for  violation  of  the 
city  ordinance,  was  adjudged  and  required  by  said  Justice  of  the 
Peace  to  give  bonds,  as  required  by  the  statute  in  such  cases,  made 
and  provided,  for  her  appearance  to  answer  to  said  charge.  Now 
the  conditions  of  this  recognizance  is  such  that  if  the  above 
bounden,  Elizabeth  E.  Wheaton,  shall  personally  appear  and  be 
before  me,  in  Belleville,  on  the  27th  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1889, 
at  9  a.  m.,  and  from  day  to  day,  and  from  term  to  term,  and  from 
day  to  day  of  each  term  hereafter,  until  discharged  by  order  of 
said  Court,  then  and  there  to  answer  to  the  said  People  of  the  State 
of  Illinois  on  said  charge  of  violation  of  the  city  ordinance  and 
then  and  there  answer  and  abide  the  order  and  judgment  of  said 
Court,  and  thence  not  depart  the  same  without  lawful  permission, 
then  and  in  that  case  this  recognizance  is  to  become  voidj  other- 
wise to  be  and  remain  in  full  force  and  virtue. 

As  witness  our  hands  and  seals,  this  24th  day  o'f  December,  A.  D. 

1889. 
Taken,  entered  into,  acknowledged  and  approved  before  me,  this 

24th  day  of  December,  1899. 

WM.  BORNMANN,   J.   P. 

Wilhelm  Meyer,  [L.  S.] 
Jas.  A.  West,  [L.  S.] 

This  occurrence  caused  a  great  deal  of  excitement  at  the 
time.  Some  time  after  I  met  one  of  the  editors  of  one  of 
the  principal  papers  of  the  town,  and  he  stated  that  a  serious 
calamity  had  overtaken  all  those  who  were  active  in  the  op- 
posing and  persecuting  me,  and  mentioned  some  who  had 
died  and  others  upon  whom  God's  judgments  seemed  to 
have  fallen. 

The  following  was  taken  from  a  paper  published  at  Belle- 
ville: 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  E.  Wheaton,  a  well  known  prison  evangelist  who 
has  labored  in  nearly  all  of  the  principal  prisons  of  the  United 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  347 

States,  was  arrested  Tuesday  evening  by  Policemen  S.  and  S., 
while  she  was  engaged  in  conducting  a  song  service,  standing  in  the 
door  at  the  entrance  to  Buchanan  Hall,  where  a  series  of  meetings 
are  being  held  by  two  other  evangelists,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  D.  Kinne. 
The  officers,  on  arriving  on  the  scene,  ordered  Mrs.  Wheaton  to 
stop  singing,  but  as  she  paid  no  attention  to  their  command,  she 
was  at  once  arrested  and  hurried  off  to  the  police  station,  where 
she  was  questioned  by  the  captain  of  police  and  the  city  marshal, 
and  a  little  later  she  was  removed  to  the  county  jail,  but  through 
the  courtesy  of  the  jailor  she  was  not  locked  up  in  a  cell.  A  com- 
plaint of  disturbing  the  peace  was  made  against  her  before  Jus- 
tice B.,  and  a  hearing  was  fixed  for  tomorrow  before  him,  and  a 
bond  for  her  appearance  was  duly  executed;  but  while  these  formal 
proceedings  were  being  attended  to  Sheriff  R.,  having  heard  of  Mrs. 
"Wheaton 's  incarceration  in  the  county  jail,  repaired  to  the  institu- 
tution,  immediately  ordered  her  release,  as  there  was  no  authority 
for  holding  her  there,  and  when  the  officer  from  Justice  B.'s  court 
arrived  with  the  bail  bond  for  Mrs.  Wheaton 's  signature,  he  was 
chagrined  to  find  that  the  lady  had  been  released  by  order  of  the 
sheriff.  No  further  attempt  was  made  to  arrest  her,  and  it  is 
probable  that  the  matter  will  be  dropped.  Mrs.  Wheaton  is  an 
elderly  lady  and  is  deeply  devoted  to  Christian  work,  especially 
among  the  unfortunates  confined  in  jails  and  prisons,  and  she  has 
a  large  number  of  testimonials  as  to  her  character  and  work  from 
prison  officials,  railway  managers  and  others  in  all  parts  of  the 
country.  Many  prominent  citizens  expressed  themselves  yester- 
day as  deeply  regretting  the  action  of  the  officers  in  arresting  Mrs. 
Wheaton.  The  same  lady,  by  written  permission  of  Sheriff  R., 
attempted  to  hold  religious  services  from  the  court  house  steps 
on  Sunday  evening  last,  but  she  was  forced  to  desist  by  the  city 
marshal.  Mrs.  Wheaton  applied  to  Mayor  B.  recently  for  per- 
mission to  hold  open-air  religious  meetings  on  the  streets,  but  was 
denied  the  privilege  on  the  ground  that  considerable  disorder  had 
been  occasioned  some  months  ago  by  the  holding  of  such  meetings 
by  members  of  the  Salvation  Army,  who  held  forth  in  Belleville 
for  a  time.  The  action  of  the  mayor  in  refusing  to  allow  the 
evangelist  to  hold  open-air  meetings,  and  the  arrest  of  Mrs. 
Wheaton  while  engaged  in  conducting  a  song  service  in  the  door  of 


348  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Buchanan  Hall,  where  the  revival  services  are  held,  is  causing  a 
great  deal  of  severe  criticism,  owing  to  the  toleration  of  the  parad- 
ing of  the  principal  streets  by  brass  bands  on  Sundays,  as  well  as 
other  days,  to  draw  audiences  for  minstrel  shows,  etc.,  the  gather- 
ing of  crowds  on  the  public  square  by  street  fakirs,  patent  medi- 
cine peddlers,  quack  doctors  and  others,  who  deal  out  rough  jokes, 
etc.,  in  tones  loud  enough  to  be  heard  blocks  away. 
Belleville,  Dec.  26,  1838. 


CHAPTER  XVlii. 
Rescue  Work. 

A  Mother's  Plea  for  Her  Fallen  Daughter. 

So  tenderly  reared  in  the  pure  country  air, 

So  innocent,  gracious  and  true, 
A  sweet  loving  daughter,   so   gentle  and  fair. 

Of  the  great  wicked  world  naught  she  knew, 
She  roamed  on  the  hillside  and  plucked  the  sweet  flowers, 

Nor  far  from  my  sight  did  she  stray, 

Till  a  shy  cunning  charmer  invaded  her  bowers, 
•     And  stole  my  loved  treasure  away. 

With  words  fair  and  lovely  he  won  her  young  heart, 
Then  wooed  her   far   from  the   home   nest, 
Then  hastily  pressed  to  the  city's  great  mart, 

My  darling  he  tore  from  my  breast; 
So  simple,  confiding,  ne'er  dreaming  of  harm. 

She  laid  her  young  life  at  his  feet, 
And  the   foul,   venomed  viper  pierced   her   heart   with   a  thorn, 

And  left  her  to  die  in  the  street. 

All  wounded  and  bleeding  and  covered  with  shame, 

And  knowing  not  wither  to  go, 
Tn  the  haunts  of  the  vilest  she  cringed  her  away, 

To  hide  her  disgrace  and  her  woe; 
Could  I  know  she  had  gone  from  this  cold,  cruel  world, 

My  grief  would  be  easy  to  bear, 
But  to  satiate  vile  passions  her  life-blood  is  sold, 

And  my  broken  heart  pleads  in  my  prayer. 

Oh,  bring  back  my  darling,  a  poor  bruised  thing, 

The  victim  of  Satan's  deceit, 
0  tell  her  I  love  her,  though  cursed  by  the  fiend 

That  crushed  her  to  hell   'neath  his  feet. 
0  pity  my  daughter,  my  poor  fallen  one, 

Ye  who  have  daughters  so  fair, 
And  shield  not  the  monster  who  spoiled  my  loved  one 

And  drove  my  poor  heart  to  despair. 

Chicago,  111.  — MARY  WEEMS  CHAPMAN. 

For  some  years  I  have  been  quite  intimately  associated 
with  friends  who  have,  perhaps,  the  largest  Rescue  Home  in 
the  world.  I  am  told  that  they  have  taken  in  more  girls 
than  any  other  Home  of  the  kind.  Over  1,250  girls  have 


35O  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

there  been  confined  and  never  have  they  lost  one  of  these 
young  mothers  by  death.  But,  oh,  it  is  a  sad  sight  to  see 
them,  day  after  day  carrying  their  load  of  sorrow  in  their 
hearts.  Often  when  I  am  there,  as  I  manifest  toward  them 
my  love  and  sympathy,  they  tell  me  their  story  of  woe  sad 
as  was  the  cry  of  Eve  when  banished  from  the  presence 
of  God.  She  yielded  to  Satan's  devices  because  she  be- 
lieved the  voice  of  Satan  rather  than  the  voice  of  God. 
She  became  an  outcast — and  so  our  sisters  are  still  being 
deceived  by  the  devil  in  human  form  and  become  outcasts 
from  all  that  is  good.  Some  of  them  have  been  won  by  a 
mess  of  pottage,  a  mere  bauble  or  a  gewgaw.  Others  have 
the  promise  of  love — that  which  every  human  heart  craves. 
These  believe,  trust,  yield  and  are  ruined  and  some  of  them 
are  so  young !  so  ignorant !  Then  there  are  some  who  have 
been  basely  betrayed  or  brutally  forced  and  then  left  to 
bear  alone  their  shame  and  disgrace — for,  alas !  the  "traffic 
in  girls"  is  not  an  imaginary  thing,  but  an  awful  reality. 

O  that  the  good  people  of  our  fair  land  would  awaken  and 
see  that  justice  is  done  in  behalf  of  the  helpless  and  inno- 
cent !  Prevention  is  better  than  cure.  Let  us  guard  the 
children  and  put  down  every  influence  that  would  tend  to 
demoralize  either  our  boys  or  girls !  But  in  the  meantime, 
let  us  do  all  within  our  power  to  lift  up  the  fallen  and  win 
back  those  who  have  gone  astray  and  share  the  burden  and 
sorrow  of  those  who  suffer  through  no  fault  of  their  own. 

Those  who  have  been  daring  in  sin  often  make  the  most 
gifted,  consecrated  and  valiant  workers  for  God  and  souls 
when  truly  and  fully  saved.  I  bless  the  Lord  for  the  privi- 
lege of  seeking  and  finding  some  of  these  "diamonds  in  the 
rough."  I  have  known  many  Christian  workers  who  had 
once  been  criminals  or  fallen,  but  who  had  been  rescued  by 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  351 

some  one  who  had  a  knowledge  of  human  nature  and  a 
heart  filled  with  the  love  of  God  who  told  them  of  the  love 
of  Christ  and  His  wonderful  power  to  save.  O  when  we 
all  meet  in  the  great  Hereafter  what  a  time  of  rejoicing  there 
will  be  among  the  rescuers  and  the  rescued. 

DRUNKEN    WOMEN    AND    MEN. 

I  find  hundreds  of  men  and  women,  many  young  women, 
in  drunkenness  and  crime,  and  the  most  open  daring  sins. 
In  one  of  the  largest  drinking  dens  in  the  world  I  asked 
the  proprietor  if  I  might  sing  a  hymn,  and  he  gave  his  con- 
sent. I  was  obliged  to  go  down  stairs  and  through  many 
rooms  and  hallways  and  then  up  a  dark  stairway  to  the 
platform  where  the  orchestra  was  playing.  When  they 
ceased  I  sang  a  hymn  which  touched  their  hearts  and  they 
cheered  the  singing.  I  offered  a  prayer  and  they  all  seemed 
to  appreciate  it.  There  were  hundreds  of  men  only,  drink- 
ing, miners  and  others.  Then  I  went  where  there  were  both 
men  and  women  drinking,  and  sang  and  prayed  with  them. 
At  near  midnight,  while  I  was  engaged  in  prayer,  one  of 
the  poor,  unfortunate  girls  clasped  my  hand  and  put  a  piece 
of  silver  in  it,  and  stood  holding  my  hand  till  I  rose.  She 
cried  and  spoke  of  her  desire  to  be  good.  She  was  re- 
minded of  her  old  home  and  her  mother.  The  proprietor 
then  told  me  I  must  leave,  as  he  found  he  would  lose  her 
from  his  den.  He  said  he  was  once  a  Christian  himself, 
and  on  coming  west,  saw  the  money  to  be  made  in  that 
kind  of  business,  and  fell,  and  went  deep  in  sin,  leading 
others  down  with  himself. 

ASSAULTED  IN   A  DIVE. 

While  in  San  Pedro,  California,  I  went,  one  night,  into  a 
saloon  to  invite  the  men  to  a  gospel  meeting  at  the  mission 


352  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

on  the  same  block,  and  the  keeper  sprang  up  from  his 
gambling  table,  where  he  was  engaged  with  several  others 
in  a  game  of  some  kind,  and  rushing  towards  me,  violently 
grabbed  me  by  the  arms,  and  then  with  both  hands  clutch- 
ing me,  ruslied  me  to  the  door,  using  vile  and  insulting  epi- 
thets to  me  as  he  went.  At  the  door  a  lady  said,  "This  is 
a  public  house ;  you  dare  not  throw  people  out  who  have 
done  you  no  harm."  He  finally  released  his  Satanic  grasp 
upon  me.  I  had  only  spoken  a  few  kindly  words  to  two 
young  men  standing  at  the  bar  in  the  act  of  raising  their 
glasses  to  their  lips.  1  had  just  said,  "Don't  drink  it,  boys, 
please  don't,"  when  the  assault  was  made.  As  the  saloonist 
rushed  at  me,  I  said,  "Don't  touch  me,  please ;  I  will  go  out." 
But  he  seemed  fiendishly  happy  in  injuring  and  insulting  a 
helpless  old  woman,  who  only  wished  to  do  them  all  good, 
and  see  them  saved  in  Heaven  at  last.  The  only  excuse  he 
ever  made  was  that  he  thought  I  was  Carrie  Nation.  Com- 
menting on  this  occurrence,  a  Los  Angeles  paper  contained 
the  following  item : 

San  Pedro,  March  29. — "Mother"  Wheaton,  a  well  known  prison 
evangelist,  was  roughly  assaulted  by  John  Wilkins,  a  Front  street 
saloonkeeper,  shortly  after  seven  o'clock  last  evening.  Mrs. 
Wheaton  was  preaching  to  a  large  gathering  in  front  of  Wilkins' 
joint,  and  hearing  loud  cursing  within,  the  aged  reformer  entered, 
intending  to  invite  the  blasphemers  to  Peniel  Mission,  where  ser- 
vices are  held  every  evening.  She  had  scarcely  passed  inside  the 
doors  of  the  dive,  when  Wilkins  rushed  forward,  seized  her  and 
thrust  her  backward.  At  the  same  time  he  applied  vile  epithets 
to  her,  shouting  angrily:  "Get  out  of  here,  woman,  and  be  quick 
about  it!" 

So  badly  was  Mrs.  Wheaton  injured  that  she  was  unable  to 
return  to  the  mission  without  assistance.  She  is  confined  to  her 
bed  and  is  suffering  severe  pains  from  the  shock. 

Wilkins    explained    today    that    he    mistook    Mrs.    Wheaton    for 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  353 

Carrie  Nation,  whom  the  former  resembles.     No  arrests  have  been 
made. 

In  a  city  where  I  had  been  preaching  the  Gospel,  a  mes- 
senger came  stating  that  a  young  girl  had  cut  her  throat. 
It  was  an  extremely  hot  day  and  I  had  to  walk  a  long  dis- 
tance across  the  city.  Arriving  at  the  house  they  told 
me  that  no  one  was  allowed  to  go  in.  But  I  went  right  in 
and  everybody  stood  back.  Kneeling  down  by  the  poor 
girl  I  took  her  hand  already  growing  cold  in  death.  Poor 
child !  Like  thousands  of  others,  she  had  been  disappointed 
in  life.  The  one  who  had  plighted  his  troth  had  broken  her 
heart,  and  rather  than  bear  her  sHame  she  preferred  death. 
Then  and  there  I  had  the  privilege  of  pointing  this  beauti- 
ful girl  to  Christ  who  said,  "Neither  do  I  condemn  thee. 
Go  and  sin  no  more,"  and  He  who  never  turns  anyone 
away  heard  and  answered  prayer. 

One  day  I  held  a  meeting  in  the  Crittenden  Home  for 
Fallen  Girls,  in  Washington.  They  all  seemed  so  glad 
to  hear  me.  (There  were  thirty  girls.)  They  were  deeply 
moved.  After  the  meeting  closed  I  took  each  by  the  hand 
and  exhorted  them  to  live  pure  and  holy  lives.  And  with 
tears  in  their  eyes  they  promsied  to  try  and  serve  the  Lord. 
One  dear  little  girl  in  a  short  dress  (fourteen  years  old), 
clung  to  me  crying,  and  said  Jesus  had  saved  her  just  then, 
in  the  meeting,  and  she  would  be  a  good  girl  and  live  for 
Heaven.  I  clasped  her  to  my  heart  and  thought  what  Jesus 
said  about  him  who  offends  ''one  of  these  little  ones. 
Some  heartless  wretch  had  ruined  the  girl  and  left  her  to 
die  alone.  "Vengeance  is  mine,  I  will  repay,  saith  the 
Lord." 

A    GIRL    SAVED. 

Trying  to'rescue  a  girl  in  a  low  dive  in  New  York  city 


354 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 


in  1890,  as  I  entered  the  den  the  keeper,  a  large,  strong 
man,  sprang  up  and  struck  me  a  blow.  The  girl  caught 
his  arm  and  cried  out,  "Don't  strike  her,  she  is  a  lady." 
But  he  thrust  me  out,  and  I  said  to  her,  "Fly  for  your  life 
— out  at  the  back  door."  I  ran  around  the  saloon  and  caught 
her  away  from  an  angry  mob  and  with  the  help  of  the  sis- 
ters with  me,  almost  carried  her  six  blocks  to  the  Critten- 
den  Home,  and  there  she  was  reformed  and  converted. 

A    GIRL    REJECTED    AT    RESCUE    HOME. 

In  Ft.  Worth,  Texas,  I  once  found  in  the  jail  a  poor  girl 
who  was  a  very  desperate  character.  She  had  been  at  the 
Rescue  Home  several  times,  and  she  was  so  very  wicked 
that  they  refused  to  have  her  there  again.  They  said  it  was 
of  no  use  trying  to  reclaim  her.  I  well  remember  the  night 
that  the  Lord  sent  me  to  the  jail  to -hold  a  meeting.  The 
service  was  held  after  dark,  as  the  prisoners  were  com- 
pelled to  work  during  the  day.  I  was  intensely  grieved 
and  very  much  burdened  over  the  case  of  this  poor  girl.  So 
intelligent,  yet  so  sinful !  In  my  grief,  I  fell  upon  the  floor 
weeping  over  her  lost  condition. 

A  sister  who  was  with  me,  and  on  her  way  then  to  In- 
dia, prayed  for  me  as  well  as  for  the  poor  prisoners,  and 
the  lost  girl.  The  meeting  closed,  and  the  next  day  we  left 
the  city,  the  sister  going  west,  while  I  started  north. 

After  we  left  Ft.  Worth,  my  heart  was  still  sad  and 
greatly  pained  for  the  poor  lost  girl  I  had  seen  in  the  jail 
and  I  wrote  to  the  superintendent  of  the  Rescue  Home  and 
pleaded  with  her  to  try  her  just  once  more — not  only  for 
my  sake,  but  for  the  sake  of  Jesus.  She  did  so,  and  the 
result  was  that  the  girl  was  saved  and  began  a  life  of  vir- 
tue and  usefulness. 

A  year  or  so  later,  I  was  again  at  Ft.  Worth,  and  was 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  355 

holding  services  in  the  Girls'  Rescue  Home.  As  they  as- 
sembled for  the  meeting  I  shook  hands  with  each  of  them. 
I  said  of  one  of  the  girls  to  the  matron,  "This  girl  looks 
like  a  good  Christian — who  is  she?"  The  girl  herself  replied, 
"Don't  you  know  me,  mother?"  I  said,  "No."  Then  she 
answered,  "I  am  the  girl  you  rescued  from  the  prison ;" 
and  the  matron  said  that  she  was  the  best  girl  in  the  home. 
I  went  back  after  another  year,  and  she  was  the  matron's 
assistant.  Still  later  the  superintendent  told  me  that  she 
was  a  deaconess  in  New  York,  and  was  doing  a  great 
work.  This  same  lady  told  me  how  she  had  shortly  before 
come  across  my  letter  in  which  I  begged  her  mother-in-law, 
who  was  the  former  superintendent,  to  help  the  girl  and 
give  her  just  one  more  chance !  Oh,  how  wonderfully  God 
had  answered  my  prayers  and  the  yearning  of  my  heart 
that  night  when  the  burden  of  her  soul  rested  so  heavily 
upon  me ! 

ROBBED    BY    HER    OWN    BROTHER. 

A  lovely  girl  was  once  drugged  by  her  deceiver  and  left 
to  bear  her  shame  alone.  She  was  led  to  a  rescue  home 
where  she  was  cared  for.  Sometime  after  the  birth  of  her 
child,  which  she  dearly  loved,  her  father  died,  and  left  her 
$1,000.  She  was  induced  by  her  brother  to  come  to  the 
city  where  he  was  living,  and  give  him  the  money,  which  he 
and  his  wife  used  reckfessly.  They  then  moved,  leaving  the 
poor  girl  sitting  on  the  steps  without  money  enough  even  to 
buy  milk  for  her  babe.  The  poor  girl  was  almost  distracted 
with  grief.  I  found  her  a  temporary  home  with  Christian 
people  and  a  little  later  secured  transportation  for  her  to  a 
rescue  home  in  another  city  where  she  could  be  kindly  pro- 
vided for. 

In  that  hour  of  despair,  when  I  found  her,  she  was  al- 


356  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

most  ready  to  yield  to  the  enemy  of  her  soul,  through  temp- 
tation of  the  same  wretch  who  had  first  effected  her  ruin. 
She  could  go  hungry  herself,  she  said,  but  she  could  not 
see  her  babe  suffer  for  want  of  food. 

Sisters,  let  us  try  by  all  possible  means  to  befriend  our 
own  sex  and  help  all  who  are  thrown  in  our  way,  heaven- 
ward. 

NEGLECTED  BY  THE  CHURCHES. 

I  once  went  to  a  city  where  there  are  many  churches 
and  professors  of  religion,  and  yet  there  in  the  Home  for 
Fallen  Girls,  where  I  held  services  I  found  the  inmates  neg- 
lected. I  then  went  to  the  poorhouse  where  over  a  hun- 
dred poor  and  crippled  destitute  people  were  so  glad  to  hear 
me  sing  hymns  while  they  partook  of  their  dinner.  They 
seemed  to  wonder  who  and  what  I  was,  yet,  how  glad  they 
were  when  they  understood  it  was  for  tne  love  of  their  souls 
Jesus  had  sent  me  to  tell  them  of  His  great  love.  Thank 
God  for  the  privilege  of  going  to  these  places.  God  always 
finds  a  way  when  there  seems  to  be  no  way. 
.  So  I  must  say  in  concluding  that  of  all  those  who  have 
my  sympathy  and  my  help,  my  prayers  and  my  tears,  pris- 
oners, and  all,  the  poor,  abandoned,  forsaken  girl,  who  has 
no  one  to  share  her  sorrow  and  her  shame  claims  and  re- 
ceives my  deepest  sympathy  and  assistance.  There  is  no 
one  on  whom  Jesus  had  more  compassion  and  yet  the  croak- 
ers are  often  the  ones  to  send  her  to  worse  shame  by  their 
neglect  and  cruelty.  Jesus  said,  "Neither  do  I  condemn 
thee,  go  and  sin  no  more." 

"She  is  more  to  be  pitied  than  censured, 

She  is  more  to  be  loved  than  despised, 

She  is  only  a  poor  girl  who  has  ventured 

On  life's   rugged   path   ill-advised. 
Don 't  scorn  her  with  words  fierce  and  bitter, 
Don  't  laugh  at  her  shame  and  downfall ; 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  357 

Just  pause  for  a  moment,  consider 
That  a  man  was  the  cause  of  it  all." 

VISIT  TO   A   HOSPITAL. 

One  Sunday,  years  ago,  I  visited  a  hospital  in  a  certain 
city  and  found  it  in  a  most  terrible  condition.  There  were 
many  sick,  both  men  and  women,  and  how  glad  they  were 
to  see  me!  The  public  were  not  permitted  inside  the 
grounds,  but  the  superintendent  being  absent  I  was  admit- 
ted. The  patients  were  suffering  with  hunger,  and  were  in 
a  most  filthy  condition. 

I  found  both  colored  men  and  women  in  the  same  room 
and  all  covered  with  body  lice.  One  old  colored  woman 
was  almost  eaten  alive  with  vermin,  and  starving.  They 
would  not  give  her  even  a  drink  of  water.  I  gave  her 
water  and  she  drank  a  quart  and  begged  for  more.  I 
asked  her  if  she  would  like  to  have  me  bring  her  something 
to  eat.  She  said,  "Oh,  yes,  Honey."  I  said, '"What  can 
you  eat?"  She  said,  "A  crust  of  bread — Fs  so  hungry,  been 
hungry  so  long." 

My  heart  was  sick  at  the  sights  and  sounds  of  suffering 
and  anguish.  I  told  the  Lord  about  it.  All  night  I  cried 
and  prayed.  I  got  up  early,  got  a  large,  fat  chicken,  made 
soup,  got  provisions  and  a  couple  to  help  me  carry  the 
things,  and  went  to  that  miserable  place.  I  got  access  to 
the  building  with  my  food  and  all  got  a  share.  I  never 
will  forget  the  looks  on  the  faces  of  those  starving  suffer- 
ers, and  the  tears  coursing  down  their  wan,  pale  cheeks, 
as  I  and  dear  Mary,  my  helper,  fed  them.  One  poor  old 
white  brother  said  he  was  ashamed  to  have  us  near  him. 

I  took  along  clothing  for  the  poor  old  colored  woman, 
and  had  to  take  the  scissors  and  cut  the  garment  off  from 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

her,  and  put  it  in  the  stove.  I  found  the  mattress  decaying 
under  her. 

I  told  the  superintendent's  wife  I  would  be  a  witness 
against  her  in  the  day  of  judgment  for  treating  the  patients 
so  cruelly.  She  said  she  did  not  have  help.  I  said  the 
state,  county  or  city  would  send  help,  that  that  was  no  ex- 
cuse for  their  starving  and  cruelly  treating  those  sick  help- 
less invalids.  The  old  woman  and  the  men  told  me  they 
were  compelled  to  live  there  in  that  one  room  altogether. 
It  was  terrible ! 

One  man  said  he  had  killed  vermin  until  he  was  so  tired 
and  weak  he  could  do  no  more.  They  said  that  seldom 
ever  any  one  left  that  death  hole  alive.  The  bodies  were 
sold  for  dissection. 

I  went  early  the  next  morning  to-  the  judge's  office  to 
relate  my  experience  and  ask  him  if  something  could  not 
be  done  to  relieve  the  suffering  of  the  patients  that  I  found 
there  in  such  a  filthy  condition  and  in  such  need  of  cafe 
and  food  and  water.  I  told  him  I  did  not  see  the  superin- 
tendent, Mr.  V.  Just  at  that  moment  a  dudish  young  fel- 
low in  the  room  arose  and  said,  "So  you  did  not  see  V. 
when  you  went  there  yesterday ;  you  see  him  now,  don't 
you?"  He  was  very  angry  and  said  I  got  inside  by  his 
absence,  and  that  he  would  do  so  and  so.  The  judge  said 
angrily,  "Woman,  you  talk  too  much."  I  said,  "I  have  not 
begun  to  talk  yet."  The  two  men  hissed  and  told  me  to 
leave  the  office.  I  had  taken  the  precaution  to  take  with 
me  the  sister  who  was  traveling  with  me  at  that  time,  also 
the  young  man  who  had  helped  us  to  carry  the  clothes  and 
provisions  to  the  hospital  the  day  before.  They  could  h*ve 
corroborated  my  testimony  but  the  judge  was  evidently  hi 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    I.OYK  359 

• 

league  with  the  superintendent  of  the  hospital  and  would 
not  listen. 

I  went  to  a  church  in  the  place  to  a  Woman's  Missionary 
meeting  and  got  permission  to  speak  to  the  ladies  in  public 
about  the  awful  conditions  I  found  in  their  so-called  hos- 
pital. They  were  surprised  and  greatly  incensed,  and  told 
their  husbands,  and  so  there  was  awakened  an  interest  that 
resulted  in  further  investigation.  Facts  were  found  as  I 
had  stated,  only,  if  anything,  worse. 

The  outcome  of  these  things  being  brought  to  light  was 
that  the  old  shanties  which  served  as  a  so-called  hospital 
were  replaced  by  good  buildings  and  kind  caretakers  took 
the  place  of  the  cruel  superintendent — who  died  some 
months  later  after  a  long  illness. 

ANOTHER  VISIT  TO  A  HOSPITAL. 

The  following  is  a  description  of  a  visit  to  another  hos- 
pital, as  published  in  a  paper  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.  This 
was  also  early  in  my  work. 

A  BAT  CAVE. 

A    SANITARIUM   FOB   CATS    AND    HOTEL   FOR   DOGS — CALLED   BY   COURTESY 
THE  CITY  HOSPITAL  OF  CHATTANOOGA. 

Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton,  the  eloquent  female  evangelist,  who  has  been 
in  the  city  for  the  past  week  carrying  on  a  series  of  prayer  meetings 
in  the  jails  and  houses  of  ill  fame,  came  into  the  Commercial  office 
yesterday  afternoon  and  gave  a  full  and  detailed  report  of  the  neg- 
lected condition  of  the  city  hospital.  She  says: 

"As  I  approached  the  building  I  could  not  convince  myself  that  I 
was,  really  in  sight  of  a  hospital,  for  it  reminded  me  more  of  a  stable 
than  anything  else  I  could  conceive  of.  I  approached  the  gate  and 
met  a  colored  female  mute  who  raised  her  hand  in  a  deprecating  man- 
ner as  if  to  warn  me  of  some  unseen  danger  that  I  was  about  to 
come  in  contact  with.  I  motioned  the  negro  girl  to  lead  the  way 
and  followed  her  into  a  dreary  looking  house  that  I  had  been  told 
was  really  the  only  hospital  of  which  Chattanooga  could  boast.  Just 


360  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

as  I  opened  the  door  six  big  hounds  sprang  from  the  different  beds 
within  the  building  and  would  have  torn  me  to  pieces  had  not  I 
hastily  slammed  the  door  and  shut  them  in.  I  applied  to  a  poor 
cripple  man  who  had  the  appearance  of  a  half-fed  mendicant  where 
to  find  the  keeper  and  I  was  informed  that  he  was  asleep,  but  if  I 
would  wait  he  (the  cripple)  would  go  and  wake  him  up,  and  in  a  few 
moments  he  returned  accompanied  by  a  healthy  looking  man  who 
seemed  to  care  little  whether  I  went  in  or  remained  out  of  doors  in 
the  rain. 

' l  As  I  followed  the  keeper  into  the  room  six  well  fed  hounds  and 
one  emaciated  looking  man  occupied  the  beds  that  were  in  the  rooms. 

"I  have  wandered  from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the  other,  I  have 
visited  prison  cells,  opium  joints,  houses  of  ijl-fame,  almshouses,  re- 
formatories and  every  dreary  den  from  New  York  to  San  Francisco, 
from  Florida  to  Montreal,  but  with  all  the  sights  with  which  I  have 
been  confronted  I  have  never  seen  a  more  cheerless  abode  and  one  so 
utterly  void  of  comfort  and  cleanliness  as  the  one  occupied  by  the 
poor,  hungry  invalid  that  shared  the  beds  of  the  well  fed  dogs. 

' '  The  sick  man  said  he  was  suffering  for  the  want  of  food  and 
had  been  shamefully  neglected  since  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
manager  of  this  cheerless  institution.  Two  inmates  have  died  within 
the  past  week  and  two  are  left  to  suffer. 

"The  other  inmate  was  a  colored  man  who  evidently  has  little 
more  of  life's  suffering  to  endure  in  this  world. 

"In  this  room  six  cats  occupied  seats  of  prominence,  two  purring 
on  one  bed  and  three  others  romping  from  place  to  place  over  the 
apartment,  while  the  sixth  wus  helping  himself  to  the  sick  man 's 
dinner. 

"The  buildings  are  without  warmth  in  the  winter  and  have  no 
means  of  ventilation  for  summer.  The  confined  air  is  contaminated 
with  the  odor  that  rises  from  unemptied  and  neglected  vessels  that 
are  allowed  to  stand  neglected  from  day  to  day.  The  keeper  seems 
to  be  utterly  indifferent  with  regard  to  the  ease  or  comfort  of  the 
sick  and  it  is  very  evident  that  while  the  city  pays  for  food  to  sup- 
port the  sick  and  suffering,  the  countless  and  useless  dogs  and  cats 
eat  a  large  portion  of  the  food  which  should  be  used  exclusively  for 
the  unfortunate  inmates." 

Mrs.  Wheaton  has  done  much  commendable  work  not  only  in  Chat- 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  36 1 

tanooga  but  from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the  other.  She  has  conse- 
crated her  time,  wealth  and  character  to  the  uplifting  of  fallen 
people,  and  by  her  devotion  to  Christianity  and  her  liberality  has  won 
thousands  of  friends  throughout  the  country. — Chattanooga  Paper. 

WORDS    OF    CHEER    FROM    OTHER    RESCUE    WORKERS. 

The  first  of  the  following  letters  I  carried  with  me  on 
my  second  visit  to  Europe,  mentioned  elsewhere: 

FLORENCE  CRITTENTON  HOME, 
21  and  23  Bleecker  Street,  New  York. 

J.  F,  Shirey,  67  Farrington  Road,  East  Coast,  England. 


MOTHER  PRINDLE. 

Dear  Brother:  This  will  introduce  to  you  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wheaton, 
a  prison  evangelist.  She  is  alone  and  unprotected  in  London.  Please 
make  the  way  for  her  as  best  you  can  where  she  can  speak  for  God 
to  the  poor  prisoners.  She  lives  by  faith  and  trusts  Him  for  all. 

God  bless  you.  MOTHER  PRINDLE. 


362  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

New  York,  October  16,  1903. 

My  first  acquaintance  with  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wheaton  was  made  in 
the  Florence  Crittenton  Midnight  Mission,  New  York  City,  in  1890. 
She  impressed  me  then  and  has  ever  since  as  one  whom  God  has 
called  and  endowed  with  special  gifts  for  a  grand  and  noble  work. 
Her  one  strong  hold  is  faith  in  God.  When  under  the  power  of  the 
Spirit  she  verily  treads  upon  serpents  and  scorpions  and  all  the  pow- 
ers of  darkness  seem  to  flee  before  her.  As  a  singing  evangelist 
for  prison  work,  I  do  not  know  her  equal.  Her  preaching  is  in  the 
demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  with  power.  She  gives  the  Lord 's 
message  with  holy  boldness,  fraught  with  tender  love  to  the  sinner, 
and  blessed  are  the  results. 

The  midnight  call  given  on  train,  when  it  was  my  privilege  to  be 
with  her,  was  an  hour  never  to  be  forgotten.  Many  will  rise  up  and 
call  her  blessed  in  that  great  day  who  but  for  her  favored  and  won- 
derful ministry  would  have  gone  into  outer  darkness.  God  bless  her 
and  her  book.  MOTHER  PRINDLE. 

The  following  taken  from  "Beulah  Home  Record,"  Chi- 
cago, 111.,  March  I,  1902,  is  explanatory  in  itself.  Also  the 
letter  that  follows: 

We  have  had  with  us  for  a  time,  as  our  honored  guest,  Mother 
Wheaton,  the  Railroad  Prison  Evangelist.  Like  Jesus,  the  friend  of 
poor  sinners,  she  goes  up  and  down  the  land  in  state  prisons  and 
homes  where  mothers '  girls  are  sheltered,  down  into  the  coal  mines, 
into  the  great  lumber  camps,  and  on  crowded  railroad  trains,  while 
speeding  along,  she  preaches  the  everlasting  gospel  of  our  Lord  and 
Savior,  and  gives  out  tracts.  Thus  she  goes  as  God 's  flaming  minis- 
ter, sowing  beside  all  waters,  singing  and  praying  poor  sin-sick, 
tempest-tossed  souls  into  the  kingdom  of  God.  Do  you  ask  v.liat  is 
the  secret  of  her  success?  It  may  be  found  in  the  Psalms,  126:6 — 
* '  She  goeth  forth  weeping, ' '  she  has  a  burning  love  for  souls.  So 
you  and  I,  dear  reader,  if  we  are  to  succeed  in  winning  souls,  our 
hearts  must  be  full  of  love  for  them.  We  give  Mother  Wheaton  a 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  363 

warm  welcome  to  this  great  and  wicked  city  of  Chicago  and  a  hearty 
welcome  always  to  Beulah  Home. 


Berachah  Home  for  Erring  Girls, 
2739  Lawton  Ave.,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

"We  feel  in  Berachah  Home  that  we  shall  not  forget  Mother  Whea- 
toii.  She  came  into  the  "Home"  and  our  lives  just  as  God  was 
leading  us  out  in  rescue  work,  and  as  she  stood  among  us  in  our 
first ' '  open  meeting, ' '  we  felt,  ' l  Here  is  a  strong,  brave  soldier  of  the 
cross. ' '  We  found  hope  and  encouragement  as  she  spoke  to  us  of 
His  service,  and  the  Spirit  witnessed  "This  is  of  God,"  as  she  sang 
one  of  her  songs  as  only  Mother  Wheaton  can  sing  them.  We  did  not 
see  her  again  until  Jtt  the  Baltimore  Convocation  of  Prayer,  January, 
1904,  when  God  again  used  her  to  bring  Mrs.  Chapman  and  me  to 
God's  full  thought  for  us  there.  She  with  others  laid  hands  on  us5, 
with  prayer,  setting  us  apart  for  the  ' '  work  whereunto  we  were 
called."  May  God  bless  her  ministry  *o~  others,  as  He  has  to  us  in 

Berachah  Home. 

MRS.  J.  P.  DUNCAN,  Mgr. 
MRS.    B.   G.    CHAPMAN,    Treas. 

THE   PRODIGAL  DAUGHTER. 

"To  the  home  of  his  father  returning, 

The  prodigal,  weary  and  worn, 
Is  greeted  with  joy  and  thanksgiving, 

As  when  on  his  first  natal  morn; 
A  '  robe '  and  a  '  ring '  are  his  portion, 

The  servants  as  suppliants  bow; 
He  is  clad  in  fine  linen  and  purple, 

In  return  for  the  penitent  vow. 

<• '  But  ah !  for  the  Prodigal  Daughter, 

Who  has  wandered  away  from  her  home; 
Her  feet  must  still  press  the  dark  valley 

And   through   the  wilderness   roam; 
Alone  on  the  bleak,  barren  mountains — 

The   mountains   so    dreary   and    cold — 
No  hand  is  outstretched  in  fond  pity 

To  welcome  her  back  to  the  fold. 

"But  thanks  to  the  Shepherd,  whose  mercy 
Still  follows  His  sheep,  tho'  they  stray; 

The  weakest,  and  e'en  the  forsaken 
He  bears  in  His  bosom  away; 

And  in  the  bright  mansions  of  glory 


364  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Which  the  blood  of  His  sacrifice  won, 
There  is  room  for  the  Prodigal  Daughter, 
As  well  as  the  Prodigal  Son ! ; ' 

We've  a  Home  for  Prodigal  Daughters, 

Our  Saviour  says  gather  them  in; 
Will  you  help  rescue  these  dear  ones — 

WTho  have  fallen  in  paths  of  sin? 
Your  girl  may  be  one  of  the  " fallen," 

And  you  long  to  see  her  return ; 
Oh,  there 's  room  for  the  Prodigal  Daughter, 

As  well  as  the  Prodigal  Son. 

— Horace. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
Work  in  Canada  and  Mexico. 

In  my  several  visits  to  the  prisons  of  Canada  I  have 
generally  found  the  officers  very  courteous.  There  are 
sometimes  there,  as  here,  changes  of  administration,  making 
the  work  of  reaching  the  prisoners  more  difficult.  In  the 
large  prison  at  Toronto  the  officers  were  especially  kind 
and  gave  me  the  privilege  of  preaching  the  gospel  to  the 
prisoners  as  often  as  I  could  attend  chapel  services.  Much 
interest  was  manifested  and  I  trust  good  was  accomplished. 

MY   SECOND  EXPERIENCE  IN   STREET   PREACHING 

was  in  Hamilton,  Canada.  There  for  weeks,  night  after 
night,  rain  or  shin:3,  I  sang  and  preached  the  gospel  in  the 
open  air.  I  was  especially  helped  of  the  Lord  and  met  with 
blessed  success. 

In  1886,  I  took  with  me  from  Toronto,  a  dear  young  sis- 
ter, who  was  called  of  God  to  join  me  in  my  work.  She 
went  with  me  to  Florida  and  many  other  states.  She  after- 
ward married  an  evangelist  but  died  a  few  years  later,  be- 
ing true  to  God,  so  far  as  I  know,  to  the  last. 

SERVICE   WITH    Y.    M.    C.    A. 

During  a  visit  to  London,  Canada,  after  visiting  the 
prisons  I  went  to  the  hospital  to  visit  the  sick.  While  sing- 
ing, a  message  came  over  the  telephone  saying  that  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  requested  me  to  lead  their  meeting 
en  Sunday  afternoon.  Would  I  come?  I  said,  "Better  wait 
till  I  return  to  the  city.  I  can't  tell."  The  secretary  had  to 
know  at  once,  so  he  could  announce  it  through  the  papers. 
So  I  promised  to  go,  as  they  had  no  speaker.  I  felt  dis- 


366  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

couraged,  as  I  could  think  of  no  message  suitable  for  that 
large,  mixed  audience,  and  prayed  for  guidance.  Sunday 
afternoon — still  with  no  message  in  mind — I  started  to  the 
hall.  As  I  walked  along  the  street,  praying,  I  said,  "Lord, 
give  me  at  least  a  text  to  read."  Just  then  I  saw  on  the 
ground  a  scrap  of  paper,  the  torn  leaf  of  a  Bible.  I  picked 
it  up,  looked  at  it,  and  there  my  message,  text  and  all, 
opened  up  to  my  mental  vision.  I  went  into  the  pulpit  de- 
pending entirely  on  God,  and  the  light  broke  in  on  my  soul, 
and  the  power  of  God  fell  on  the  people.  I  told  them  how  T 
was  depending  alone  on  the  Lord  for  the  words  as  He  gave 
them  to  me.  It  was  a  victorious  meeting.  I  leave  results 
with  the  Lord. 

A  GIRL  RESCUED. 

In  one  of  the  Canadian  cities  I  found  in  the  jail  a  beauti- 
ful girl  who  was  very  dissipated  and  unruly.  The  officers 
could  not  control  her — no  one  had  any  good  influence  over 
her.  The  Lord  laid  the  burden  of  her  soul  on  my  heart.  I 
treated  her  with  love  and  respect,  and  tried  in  every  way 
to  win  her  for  God.  Finally,  she  realized  that  I  loved  her 
soul,  though  no  one  else  cared  for  her.  Then  she  sought 
the  Lord.  She  was  a  Roman  Catholic.  I  told  her  I  would 
go  to  the  House  of  the  Good  Shepherd  and  speak  to  the 
Mother  Superior,  and  see  if  they  would  not  take  her  in,  as 
she  had  no  home.  She  wept  with  joy  at  this,  and  told  me 
of  a  plan  some  wicked  men  had  made  to  be  at  the  jail  when 
she  was  discharged  at  6  o'clock  Saturday  evening  and  take 
her  to  haunts  of  sin.  I  hurried  out  to  the  Sisters  early  in 
the  morning  and  found  them  at  mass,  and  waited,  deter- 
mined to  save  the  poor  girl  from  further  downfall,  and 
drunkenness.  The  Sisters,  seeing  my  anxiety  and  sincerity, 
agreed  to  help  me.  Then  I  went  to  the  officers  of  the  jail 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVK  367 

and  got  them  to  release  the  girl  at  noon.  She  was  taken  to 
another  city  and  thus  saved.  When  the  hour  came  for  her 
release  from  the  jail  in  the  evening,  sure  enough  several 
men  made  their  appearance  and  watched  and  waited  for  her 
to  come  out.  At  last  they  began  calling  her  name.  Then 
the  officers  went  out  and  told  them  the  girl  had  been  par- 
doned, and  had  left  at  noon  for  another  city,  with  protectors. 
Another  brand  had  been  plucked  from  the  burning  for  the 
Master's  Kingdom. 

SHUT  OUT OTHERS   ADMITTED. 

At  one  time  amidst  great  inconveniences  I  reached 
Kingston  Prison.  I  saw  some  of  the  officers  Saturday 
night  and  they  were  kind  and  willingly  consented  that  I 
should  have  opportunity  to  hold  or  assist  in  services  the 
next  day.  The  next  morning  I  went  to  the  prison  through 
a  drenching  rain — without  an  umbrella,  arrived  early  and 
waited  for  the  chaplain.  When  he  came,  I  told  him  my  de- 
sire and  what  the  other  officers  had  said.  But  he  refused  to 
even  let  me  go  inside  to  listen  to  the  service.  When  T  asked 
his  reason  he  said  they  would  not  allow  women  in  the  pris- 
on. Yet  while  I  had  been  waiting  I  had  seen  several  Catho- 
lic sisters  enter.  I  have  had  similar  experiences  in  our  own 
land. 

STONED. 

One  day  as  I  was  passing  along  the  street  in  the  quaint 
walled  city  of  Quebec,  some  boys  threw  stones  at  me,  while 
an  old  man  urged  them  on,  saying,  "If  it's  Salvation  Army 
ye  are,  ye  should  be  killed."  The  Lord  have  mercy  upon 
them  and  upon  all  who  oppose  His  work  or  His  workers. 
For  ourselves  we  must  not  count  these  things  strange.  "Lt 


368  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

is  enough  for  the  disciple  that  he  be  as  his  Master,  and  the 
servant  as  his  Lord/' 

AN    INFIDEL    DEFEATED. 

While  in  Toronto,  Canada,  I  often  went  to  the  parks 
on  Sabbath  days  and  held  services — the  mayor  of  the  city, 
who  was  a  devoted  Christian,  often  himself  helping  in  these 
open-air  services.  One  stand  in  the  park  was  usually  occu- 
pied by  the  infidel  element.  They  would  hold  the  place  all 
day  so  that  others  could  not  have  the  privilege  of  doing 
work  for  God — so  as  the  place  was  public  property  upon 
which  they  had  no  rightful  claim  I  went  early  and  so  se- 
cured the  place  before  them.  When  their  leader  arrived  the 
people  were  listening  to  the  gospel  in  song  and  testimony 
from  worthy  witnesses.  He  was  very  angry — said  it  was 
his  place  to  speak  and  he  must  have  it,  and  ordered  me  to 
stop  and  leave  the  stand,  but  I  kept  on  with  the  service  as 
God  directed  and  he  went  away  a  few  steps  and  called  for 
the  people -to  follow  him,  and  he  would  address  them.  No 
one  seemed  inclined  to  go  and  a  bystander  told  him  his  fol- 
lowers were  few  and  he  had  better  desist  from  trying  to 
disturb  a  religious  service.  So  we  had  the  victory  and  God 
was  honored  that  day  in  the  work  which  He  sent  his  ser- 
vants to  do. 

Among  my  papers  I  have  found  the  following  letters  of 
introduction  given  me  while  in  Canada  by  Hon.  John 
Robson,  Provincial  Secretary : 

Provincial  Secretary's  Department, 
Victoria,  B.  C.,  Oct.  5. 
Dear  Brother: 

The  bearers  of  this  are  prison  evangelists  of  a  very  high  and 
deserving  character,  whom  J  asked  to  call  upon  you.  If  you  could 
get  up  a  meeting  at  Y,  M.  C.  A.  rooms  for  them,  it  might  do  good. 

In  haste  y.ours, 

JOHN  KOBSON. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  369 

Provincial  Secretary's  Department, 
Victoria,  B.  C.,  Oct.  5,  1888. 
Dear  Mr.  McBride: 

The  ladies  whom  this  will  introduce  to  you  are  prison  evange- 
lists who  are  desirous  of  doing  some  work  in  the  penitentiary,  and 
I  take  the  liberty  of  bespeaking  for  them  a  kind  reception  at  your 
hands.  They  enjoy  a  high  reputation  and  are  well  deserving  of 

your  kind  attention.  Very  sincerely  yours, 

JOHN  KOBSON. 
A.  H.  McBride,  Esq.,  Warden  Penitentiary. 

Victoria,  B.  C. 

Mr.  Robson  bespeaks  for  Mrs.  Wheaton  and  lady  companion 
courteous  attention  at  the  hands  of  the  warden  of  the  Victoria  gaol. 

WORK  IN    MEXICO. 

Not  many  years  after  engaging  in  special  prison  work  I 
went  into  Mexico  and  have  since  gone  there  quite  fre- 
quently. As  a  rule  the  people  are  ignorant  and  superstitious 
and  consequently  hard  to  reach  with  the  gospel.  But 
though  I  was  compelled  to  speak  through  an  interpreter  it 
is  surprising  how  soon  they  know  if  one  is  sincere  and 
earnest.  In  the  prisons  they  are  ver%  poorly  cared  for, 
often  having  to  wait  years  for  trial  and  sometimes  dying 
of  neglect.  I  am  told  that  natives  of  our  own  land  if  thrown 
into  prison  there  fare  worse  than  others. 

A  BULL  FIGHT. 

Once  while  in  Mexico  I  found  there  was  to  be  a  bull 
fight  not  far  from  the  prison  where  I  was  to  hold  service. 
My  heart  was  sad  because  of  the  intense  anxiety  of  the 
Mexicans  to  see  the  exhibition.  They  came  long  distances 
and  there  were  many  very  old  people  who  seemed  impatient 
for  the  hour  to  arrive  when  Mexicans,  bulls  and  horses 
should  be  thrown  helplessly  together — that  they  might  view 
the  combat.  This*  cruel  sport — so  long  a  favorite  pastime 


37O  I -K  I  SONS    AND    I'KAYKK 

both  in  Spain  and  Mexico — was  at  one  time  abolished  but 
was  afterward  re-established  out  of  policy — in  order  to 
please  the  Mexicans.  For  me  to  describe  this  kind  of  fiend- 
ish pastime  would  not  glorify  God,  nor  help  the  public,  but 
would  have  a  tendency  to  brutality,  being  neither  elevating 
nor  refining.  But  should  we  not,  dear  reader,  try  to  do  all 
in  our  power  to  lead  people  to  a  higher  plane  of  morals  and 
send  missionaries  to  help  people  to  know  Jesus  who  satisfies 
every  longing  of  the  human  soul,  and  gives  peace  and  rest 
here,  and  a  home  in  T leaven  through  eternity? 

SIX    UNDER    DEATH    SENTENCE. 

At  another  time  1  visited  a  prison  in  Mexico  where  there 
were  six  men  under  death  sentence.  They  could  not  under- 
stand me,  but  I  knelt  by  those  great,  strong  men  and  wept 
and  prayed  to  God  who  could  carry  the  message  of  love 
through  my  tears  to  their  hard  hearts  and  they  were  so  af- 
fected that  we  all  wept  together.  I  am  sure  they  were  re- 
membered that  day  by  the  God  who  sent  me  to  show  them 
His  love  for  the  lost  and  who  gave  me  a  love  for  the  poor 
criminals  that  nothing  can  destroy. 

DIFFICULTIES. 

During  my  last  trip  into  Mexico,  1902,  I  found  the  pris- 
oners in  one  place  in  a  most  deplorable  condition.  They 
were  almost  starving  and  neglected  in  every  way.  I  had 
considerable  trouble  in  getting  into  the  prison  on  that  day, 
as  I  could  find  no  one  to  interpret  for  me.  So  we  went  from 
one  office  to  another  trying  to  find  some  one  to  admit  us 
to  the  prison.  As  I  entered  one  public  office  a  fierce  dog 
rame  rushing  at  me  from  an  adjoining  room.  I  lied  out 
of  the  door  in  dismay  with  the  dog  and  an  old  Mexican 
woman  at  my  heels.  I  tried  to  make  her  understand  what 


OR    A     I. AMOK    01      1  <  >\  I  .^7' 

we  wanted  and  then  imrried  away.  Finally  we  found  a 
fellow  decorated  beyond  description  \\nli  tinsel  and  other 
adornings  who  furnished  me  an  interpreter  and  admitted 
us  to  the  prison.  It  was  very  difficult  to  make  the  poor 
prisoners  understand  Imw  deeply  1  felt  for  them,  but  I  could 
put  my  arms  around  the  poor  women  who  were  there  and 
I  could  take  their  little  babes  in  my  arms  and  thus  show 
my  sympathy,  then  telling  the  story  of  Jesus  who  said, 
"Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do." 

MINISTKKICD    TO    A    SU  I-KKUKK. 

1  found  one  poor  wounded  man  who  had  just  been 
brought  into  the  prison  sitting  on  the  ground  with  bloody 
clothing  and  matted  hair.  He  was  weeping  and  tried  so 
hard  to  explain  something  to  me.  The  interpreter  was  evi- 
dently slow  to  tell  me  what  the  poor  sufferer  wanted.  I  was 
heart-sick  to  know  what  to  do,  as  we  had  only  a  short  time 
to  stay  and  I  could  not  bear  .to  leave  him  without  in  some 
way  ministering  to  him.  But  I  thought  of  the  fruit  remain- 
ing in  my  handbag.  I  thrust  an  orange  into  his  bony  hands. 
He  grabbed  it  and  with  both  hands  thrust  it  to  his  mouth 
eating  peel  and  all.  Poor  man — he  was  evidently  starving. 
Reader  1  wish  I  could  make  clear  to  you  the  pitiful  sight ! 
The  sequel  showed  me  why  that  was  providentially  left  in 
my  handbag.  How  thankful  I  was  to  minister  to  that 
poor  fellow's  need  in  even  a  small  degree,  flow  I  longed 
to  help  them  all. 


CHAPTER  XX. 
Across  the  Sea. 

I  had  greatly  desired  to  preach  the  gospel  in  other  lands 
and  held  myself  ever  ready  to  go  at  a  moment's  warning, 
anywhere  the  Lord  should  lead,  and  had  been  given  letters 
of  introduction  to  prominent  people  in  Great  Britain.  In 
the  year  1890  my  mind  was  much  exercised  about  the  re- 
gions beyond — and  without  time  for  preparation,  with  but 
an  hour's  notice,  the  call  came  to  go  forward.  I  was  in 
Philadelphia  walking  along  the  street  praying — "O  Lord, 
where  next — what  wilt  Thou  have  me  to  do?"  Looking 
up  I  saw  the  large  posters  of  steamship  lines  and  the  thought 
came  to  me,  "Go  and  inquire  the  price  of  a  ticket  to  Eu- 
rope." I  obeyed  the  impulse  and  went  in  and  talked  with 
the  steamship  agent  of  rates  and  the  time  of  departure  of 
the  first  steamer.  Then  I  left  the  office  praying,  O  God, 
show  me  Thy  will — make  Thy  way  very  plain  to  me.  Then 
I  went  back  to  the  office,  feeling  that  I  must  get  alone  with 
the  Lord.  I  asked  the  agent  if  I  might  go  into  a  rear  office 
which  was  unoccupied,  to  pray.  He  very  courteously  re- 
plied, "Certainly,  madam."  There  I  knelt  before  the  Lord 
and  inquired  if  He  wanted  me  to  go  at  once — that  very  night 
— on  the  first  steamer,  to  Scotland.  The  answer  came  clear- 
ly: "Go,  my  child,  nothing  doubting."  I  arose,  went  into 
the  front  office  and  explained  to  the  agent  the  nature  of  my 
mission  work ;  and  how  for  years  I  had  obeyed  the  leadings 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  that  I  had  a  sister  traveling  with  me 
who  was  waiting  at  the  depot  for  my  return,  to  know  where 
we  would  go  next.  Told  him  I  would  buy  two  steerage 
tickets  for  Glasgow,  Scotland,  if  he  would  refund  the  money 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  373 

for  the  one  in  case  the  sister  was  unwilling  to  go  with  me. 
To  this  he  consented,  so  I  purchased  the  tickets  and  hur- 
ried to  the  railway  station  where  I  had  left  my  friend.  I 
knew  we  had  only  a  few  moments  to  catch  the  train  for 
New  York  in  order  to  reach  the  steamer  Devonia  for  Glas- 
gow. Hurriedly  I  said  to  her,  "Do  you  want  to  go  to  Eu- 
rope?" "Oh,  yes,"  she  replied.  "When?"  I  asked.  "Oh, 
some  time,"  was  the  answer.  Then  I  said,  I  have  two  tick- 
ets. It  is  now  or  never.  If  you  wish  to  go  I  will  take  you, 
if  not,  I  will  go  alone  and  you  can  return  the  ticket  and 
get  the  money  for  yourself."  She  said,  "I  will  go."  So 
we  rushed  to  the  gate,  caught  the  train  on  the  move,  and 
reached  New  York  in  time  to  get  aboard  the  Devonia. 

ON    THE    OCEAN. 

Leaving  America's  shores  far  behind  us,  we  found  our- 
selves doomed  to  a  stormy  voyage,  but  with  plenty  of  mis- 
sionary work  to  do.  There  was,  in  the  steerage,  much  pro- 
fanity, continual  drunkenness  of  both  men  and  women,  and 
card  playing  at  all  times  only  when  the  passengers  were 
sleeping  or  too  sea-sick.  While  in  mid-ocean  we  encoun- 
tered a  severe  storm  which  greatly  delayed  us.  There  were 
only  six  Christians  on  board  the  steamer.  I  believe  it  was 
in  answer  to  prayer  that  the  ship  was  saved  from  wreck. 
After  thirteen  days  on  the  ocean,  we  saw  the  shores  of 
"Bonnie  Scotland,"  and  as  we  neared  port  there  was  great 
rejoicing  among  the  passengers — almost  all  of  whom  were 
going  home.  But  how  different  it  was  with  me !  I  felt 
much  as  Paul  did  when  he  said  to  the  elders  of  the  church 
at  Ephesus,  "And  now,  behold,  I  go  bound  in  the  spirit 
unto  Jerusalem,  not  knowing  the  things  that  shall  befall  me 
there:  save  that  the  Holy  Ghost  witnesseth  in  every  city, 
saying  that  bonds  and  afflictions  abide  me."  Like  him  I 


374  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

felt  that  suffering  and  persecution  and  perhaps  imprison- 
ment and  death  was  before  me  in  that  strange  land,  but 
Paul  was  enabled  to  say,  "But  none  of  these  things  move 
me,  neither  count  I  my  life  dear  unto  myself,  so  that  I 
might  finish  my  course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  I 
have  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel  of 
the  grace  of  God ;"  and  with  something  of  the  same  spirit 
I  was  enabled  to  say,  as  I  wept  before  Him,  Lord,  I  will 
be  true — only  give  me  Thy  grace  sufficient  for  me." 

IN   A   FOREIGN    LAND. 

I  was  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land  with  only  a  few  shill- 
ings and  without  any  great  degree  of  strength  of  body  and, 
strange  to  say,  for  one  reason  and  another  I  never  saw  one 
of  those  to  whom  I  carried  letters  of  introduction.  How 
the  Lord  was  teaching  me  not  to  lean  on  the  arm  of  flesh! 
In  answer  to  a  letter  of  inquiry  written  to  one  to  whom  one 
letter  was  addressed,  I  received  the  following  very  kind 
reply  from  her  husband: 

11  Walker  St., 
Edinburgh,  Oct.  18,  1890. 
Dear  Friend: 

Your  letter  of  the  16th,  with  one  from  Miss  Sisson,  has  just 
reached  ire,  forwarded  from  Crieff.  Since  Miss  Sisson  's  letter  was 
written  my  dear  wife  has  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus  and  having  left 
Crieff  I  am  in  lodgings  for  the  present  in  Edinburgh  with  my 
sister  and  five  children. 

I  have  been  praying  over  the  subject  of  your  letter,  but  I  do 
not  have  any  light  on  the  matter  nor  am  I  likely,  so  far  as  I  can 
see,  to  be  in  Glasgow  for  some  time.  Yet  if  the  Lord  sent  you  to 
Scotland  He  will  certainly  show  you  what  He  has  for  you  to  do. 
"Trust  in  the  Lord  with  all  thine  heart  and  lean  not  to  thine  own 
understanding:  in  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  Him  and  He  shall 
direct  thy  paths." 

I  enclose  a  one-pound  note  towards  expenses. 

Yours  in  Christ,  G.  W.  OLDHAM. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  375 

At  the  landing  in  Glasgow,  I  inquired  of  the  policeman 
on  duty  and  secured  a  room  with  his  family.  Then  I  went 
in  search  of  a  meeting.  Found  the  car-fare  a  penny  a  mile 
and  other  customs  quite  different  from  ours.  The  first 
meeting  I  found  corresponded  to  our  Y.  M.  C.  A.  meetings. 
But  our  special  mission  was  to  the  lost. 

That  evening  I  received  permission  from  the  policeman 
to  hold  open-air  meetings.  Going  along  the  street  a  wo- 
man who  was  drunk  spied  me  and  rushed  after  me  beating 
me  on  the  back.  As  I  made  no  resistance  other  drunken 
women  joined  their  companion  in  sin  and  I  would  have 
had  a  hard  time  of  it  had  not  the  police  protected  me. 
These  drunken  women  thought  that  I  belonged  to  the  Sal- 
vation Army,  as  the  bonnet  I  then  wore  was  quite  similar 
to  the  one  dear  Mother  Booth  had  worn  and  I  was  often 
told  that  I  looked  like  her.  I  was  in  Scotland  when  she 
passed  to  her  reward  in  the  land  where  there  are  no  slums, 
no  sinners  to  rescue,  to  weep  over  and  save.  Had  I  been 
near  enough  how  gladly  would  I  have  joined  the  great 
throng  that  gathered  to  show  honor  to  her  memory !  Near- 
ly every  night  while  in  Glasgow  found  us  on  the  streets 
preaching,  singing,  and  praying,  with  those  who  never 
went  to  church — many  of  them  not  even  to  the  Salvation 
Army  or  missions.  In  many  respects  we  found  worse  con- 
ditions than  in  our  home-land.  The  public  houses  were  al- 
ways filled  at  night  with  men  and  often  their  whole  fami- 
lies— drinking  all  kinds  of  intoxicants — women  with  infants 
in  their  arms  as  well  as  others  drinking  with  men  at  the 
bar.  And  the  most  beautiful  girls  to  be  found  were  se- 
cured by  the  keepers  of  these  houses  to  stand  behind  the 
bar  and  sell  the  drinks. 

The  prisons,  my  special  burden,  I  found  very  difficult  of 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 


access  for  missionary  work.  I  found  that  women  were  not 
expected,  there,  to  do  that  kind  of  work.  Yet  I  fasted  and 
prayed  and  wept  before  the  Lord,  pleading  that  the  prison 
doors  might  be  opened  to  me  and  at  last  I  was  successful 
in  gaining  admission  to  some  of  them.  After  some  delay 
I  was  admitted  to  Duke  Street  jail,  in  Glasgow,  and  there 
held  several  services.  It  is  a  large  prison,  filled  with  the 
baser  sort  and  those  whom  the  public  houses  had  been  li- 
censed to  make  drunkards  —  to  cause  to  reel  and  stagger 
and  abuse  and  kill  when  unconscious  of  what  they  were 
doing.  The  Lord's  presence  was  revealed  in  our  services 
there  and  souls  got  help  from  God,  and  I  hope  to  meet 
many  of  them  in  heaven.  We  visited  the  poor  in  their 
homes,  different  penal  institutions  —  all  of  the  missions  and 
Salvation  Army  Corps  and  many  of  the  churches.  While 
time  lasts  we  will  find  much  to  do  to  help  those  around  us. 

MY  LIFE  IN  DANGER. 

Oftentimes  my  life  was  in  danger  when  visiting  the  sa- 
loons, which  are  there  called  public  houses  —  the  keepers 
being  called  publicans.  Often  the  keepers  of  brothels  and 
other  places  of  sin  drew  revolvers  on  me  —  threatening  me 
with  death  if  I  did  not  leave,  as  they  did  not  want  to  lose 
their  customers  and  their  money  —  which  they  were  sure 
to  do  if  souls  were  converted  there,  but  the  Lord  always 
delivered  me  when  death  stared  me  in  the  face.  One  day 
I  went  into  a  public  house  where  a  woman  kept  a  dive. 
She  at  once  got  very  angry,  demanded  my  business,  and  or- 
dered me  to  leave  her  place.  She  clutched  me  with  a  fiend- 
ish grip,  and  pushed  me  out  of  the  door,  but  purposely 
fastened  one  of  my  arms  in  the  door  as  she  slammed  it 
shut.  I  prayed  God  to  release  me  and  with  the  help  of  the 
sister  who  was  with  me  we  got  the  door  open  enough  to 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  377 

release  my  arm.  I  am  sorry  to  have  reason  to  say  that,  as 
a  rule.  I  find  the  women  who  are  in  charge  of  brothels  and 
saloons  harder  to  deal  with  than  the  men.  A  woman  of 
judgment  and  tact  when  fully  saved  can,  in  many  cases/do 
more  good  than  men  from  the  fact  that  she  can  go  where 
very  few  men  could  go  without  being  looked  upon  with 
suspicion.  What  need,  then,  that  we  should  be  emptied  of 
self  and  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  all  given  up  to  the  Lord 
in  order  that  we  can  work  successfully  for  God  and  souls. 
One  Saturday  night,  while  in  Glasgow,  I  preached  in  a 
church.  Great  crowds  had  turned  out  in  the  city  spending 
their  week's  wages.  There  was  much  drinking  of  both 
men  and  women.  At  the  church  was  given  a  "Penny  Tea," 
consisting  of  a  cup  of  tea  and  a  biscuit,  thus  drawing  the 
crowds — and  afterwards  having  some  one  preach  to  them. 

A   SONG   STOPS   A   ROW. 

When  the  services  had  closed,  we  were  returning  to  our 
lodging  and  were  attracted  by  a  great  crowd  of  people  en- 
gaged in  a  row  and  a  fight.  I  soon  saw  there  was  danger 
of  bloodshed  and  stepping  out  in  the  street  I  began  to  sing 
an  old  time  hymn.  This  drew  the  attention  of  many  and 
they  came  running  to  hear.  Then  I  talked  to  them  of  Jesus 
and  His  love,  and  we  went  on  our  way  and  held  another 
service  on  another  street.  Then,  coming  to  the  quarters  of 
a  company  of  firemen,  I  asked  if  I  might  hold  a  service 
with  them  some  time.  One  of  them  replied,  "Yes,  why  not 
now?"  It  was  then  10  o'clock  and  raining.  I  stepped  into 
the  street  and  began  singing.  Across  the  way  there  was  a 
dance  hall  with  dancing  going  on  upon  the  three  floors  of 
the  hall.  As  I  sang,  the  windows  of  the  hall  were  lowered 
with  a  crash,  perhaps  to  keep  out  the  rain — perhaps  to  keep 
out  the  sound  of  my  voice. 


3/8  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

As  we  proceeded  with  the  service  a  policeman  soon  ap- 
peared and  ordered  me  to  stop.  I  told  him  I  was  not  violat- 
ing any  ordinance  of  the  city  and  only  holding  the  service 
at  the  request  of  these  firemen.  He  was  angry  and  threat- 
ened to  arrest  us.  He  soon  returned  with  two  other  offi- 
cers, and  while  the  sister  who  was  with  me  was  speaking, 
he  took  her  by  the  arm  and  led  her  down  the  muddy  street. 
I  began  singing,  "He  is  able  to  deliver  thee."  The  other 
two  policemen  took  me  by  the  arms  and  forced  me  through 
the  deep  mud  in  the  street  quite  a  long  distance  to  the  jail. 
Before  being  placed  in  the  cell  I  was  asked  the  cause  of  our 
arrest.  I  replied,  "For  holding  open-air  service  on  the 
street,  and  there  is  no  law  in  Scotland  to  forbid  us  from 
doing  so."  We  were  placed  in  a  room  under  guard  to 
await  the  decision.  We  could  hear  the  shrieks  of  men  antf 
women  delirious  from  drink. 

I  was  asked  who  we  were,  and  replied,  "We  have  come 
from  America  to  preach  the  gospel."  After  cross-ques- 
tioning and  severely  reprimanding  me  they  asked  if  I  would 
hold  my  peace  if  they  would  let  me  go.  I  answered,  "I  do 
not  wish  to  disregard  your  request,  but  I  must  obey  God, 
for  that  is  why  I  am  here.  And  according  to  your  law  it  is 
no  crime  to  hold  open-air  services ;  and  it  is  a  custom  with 
the  churches."  "Then  we  will  put  you  into  the  cell."  An- 
other said,  "No,  we  cannot  do  that  for  this  offense."  Then 
he  said  I  should  be  gone.  I  said,  "Will  you  not  send  an 
officer  to  show  us  the  way  to  our  lodging,  as  you  have  ar- 
rested us  without  a  cause  and  it  is  late  at  night?"  But 
they  refused  to  send  a  guide.  I  asked  if  they  would  give 
me  the  name  of  the  policeman  who  arrested  us,  and  told 
them  the  matter  was  not  yet  ended ;  that  they  did  not  know 
with  whom  they  were  dealing.  At  first  they  refused  to 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  379 

give  me  the  names  asked  for;  but  I  said  I  should  stay  till 
they  did  so,  and  I  prevailed.  When  we  had  started  to  try 
to  find  our  way  to  our  lodging  place,  we  met  a  lady  who 
kindly  directed  us  to  the  street  and  number. 

On  Monday  a  sister  who  had  been  preaching  among  the 
policemen  for  some  years,  called  to  see  me — having  heard 
of  my  arrest  and  treatment.  She  was  much  surprised  and 
said  she  could  have  those  policemen  all  discharged  for  their 
conduct  toward  me.  I  said,  "No,  do  not  do  that;  I  only 
want  to  see  them  and  talk  to  them  about  their  souls'  salva- 
tion." "Then,"  she  replied,  "I  will  have  them  come  and 
ask  your  forgiveness."  As  she  started  away,  I  handed  her 
some  recommendations  and  railroad  passes  I  had  had  in 
America  and  letters  of  introduction  to  parties  in  that  land. 
Glancing  over  them  she  exclaimed,  "Is  it  possible?  A  lady 
with  such  a  recommend!  These  letters  are  addressed  to 
some  of  the  best  people  in  Great  Britain.  Will  you  trust 
me  with  these  till  I  return?"  "Certainly,"  I  replied.  She 
returned  in  due  time,  saying  the  policemen  would  come 
and  make  an  apology.  I  was  very  glad,  for  I  felt  then  that 
I  could  tell  them  it  was  the  love  of  Christ  for  the  lost  ones 
of  earth  that  constrained  me  to  speak  on  the  streets.  Many 
ladies  called  during  the  day  to  give  me  their  sympathy  and 
show  their  interest.  The  policeman  who  caused  the  arrest 
came  and  asked  me  to  forgive  him.  He  bowed  with  us  in 
prayer,  and  sobs  shook  his  heavy  frame  while  his  tears  fell 
like  rain.  He  said,  "It  is  like  mother  used  to  talk,  and  it  is 
the  same  kind  of  religion  she  had  in  olden  times."  I  believe 
that  man  found  Christ  his  Savior  that  day.  He  told  us  of 
his  wife  sick  at  home  and  two  "wee  bairns,"  and  as  he 
could  get  no  girl  at  home,  he  had  overworked ;  and  on  that 


380  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Saturday  night  had  taken  too  much  liquor  in  order  to  keep 
him.  awake. 

He  invited  me  to  call  upon  his  family.  This  I  did  the 
following  day,  and  found  it  as  he  had  said.  The  two  other 
men  that  had  a  part  in  arresting  us  came  the  following  day. 
One  of  them  seemed  very  penitent  when  I  talked  to  them, 
and  both  humbly  begged  my  pardon  for  their  conduct  to- 
ward me. 

While  in  Glasgow  I  was  invited  by  General  Evans,  of  the 
Gospel  Army,  to  conduct  special  services  for  ten  nights  at 
their  hall — commonly  known  as  the  Globe  Theater.  We 
copy  the  following  from  an  editorial  of  the  General's  pub- 
lished in  his  paper  while  we  were  there: 

"Hearing  of  these  evangelists  we  decided  to  invite  them  to 
Globe  Theater,  and  truly  we  can  say  God  has  visited  his  people. 
They  do  not  believe  in  forms  and  ceremonies  like  us  formal  Scotch 
Christians,  but  speak  as  they  are  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost.  They 
live  by  faith  and  do  not  ask  for  money  or  collections;  however, 
they  seem  to  get  on  very  well,  and  I  never  yet  heard  them  grum- 
bling about  having  too  little.  They  take  whatever  is  given  them 
as  from  the  Lord,  and  give  Him  their  sincere  thanks  accordingly. 
They  have  spent  over  a  week  speaking  and  singing  every  night  in 
our  meetings,  and  not  a  few  have  been  impressed  by  the  earnest 
words  of  our  sisters.  Some  of  the  professors  have  had  their  short- 
comings pretty  well  threshed  out,  the  writer  coming  in  for  his 
share.  Our  meetings  have  been  well  attended  and  I  believe  a  really 
good  work  has  been  begun  in  our  midst.  The  elder  lady  carries 
about  with  her  a  book  full  of  newspaper  clippings  and  numerous 
testimonials  about  her  work  in  America.  Her  special  field  is  in 
the  prisons  and  among  the  unfortunates.  She  takes  no  stock  in 
sensational  worship,  but  there  is  always  a  great  sensation  wherever 
she  puts  in  an  appearance.  ...  In  closing  I  may  say  that  our 
heaven-bound  sisters  have  had  some  severe  trials  since  leaving 
their  native  shores.  Eternity  alone  will  reveal  the  amount  they 
have  endured  for  the  Master's  sake.  Before  they  had  been  many 
hours  in  Glasgow  they  wjre  marched  off  to  jail  for  preaching  at  a 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  381 

street  corner,  and  gathering  a  crowd.  I  trust  this  epistle  will  open 
up  our  cold,  hard  hearts  and  that  we  may  receive  our  sisters  a*  is 
our  duty  as  a  Christian  community. 

TUMULT   IN   A  DIVE. 

"Fear  none  of  those  things  which  thou  shalt  suffer:    behold  the 
devil  shall  cast  some  of  you  into  prison  that  ye  may  be  tried; 
*     Be  thou  faithful  unto  death  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life. ' ' 
—Rev.  2:10. 

One  Sunday  night,  as  I  was  on  my  way  going  from  the 
meeting,  being  in  company   with  General   Evans   and  his 
wife  and  the  sister  who  traveled  with  me,  I  saw  a  public 
house  open  and  went  in  and  began  to  speak  to  the  men  and 
women.    I  had  only  talked  a  few  minutes  when  the  proprie- 
tor came  in  and  asked,  "Are  you  a  customer  here?"    I  re- 
plied, "No,  I  am  only  speaking  to  these  people  about  their 
souls."    He  said,  "Now  you  leave,  or  I'll  make  you."     He 
ran  into  a  back  room,  and  coming  out  he  passed  me  quickly, 
running  to  the  door  and  blowing  a  long  blast  on  a  police 
whistle.    This  aroused  the  people  and  brought  to  the  scene 
several  policemen  and  hundreds  of  people  of  all  classes  in 
general  fright.     A  man  rushed  in  and  catching  me  by  the 
arm  cried,  "Come  out  of  this  place,   quick,  or  you'll  be 
killed.     You  are  in  danger.     You  don't  know  where  you 
are !    This  is  the  Callow  Gate ;  the  worst  place  in  Glasgow." 
I  said  to  him,  "Let  me  alone,  I  am  obeying  God."    But  as 
the  policemen  closed  in  around  me  there  was  a  cry  raised, 
"It  is  Jack  the  Ripper  in  disguise."     The  excitement  in 
those  days  was  intense  all  over  Europe.     Jack  the  Ripper 
was  a  fiend  in  human  form  that  was  killing  women  contin- 
ually in  the  most  horrifying  manner  and  in  cold  blood. 
You  might  see  on  a  bulletin  board  in  the  city  that  a  mur- 
der would  be  committed  on  such  a  day  and  hour  and  these 
threats  would  be  carried  out.    Yet  he  defied  the  detectives 


382  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

and  police.  Large  rewards  were  offered  for  his  capture.  I 
saw  that  my  life  was  in  danger  unless  I  could  convince 
them  of  their  mistake,  of  which  I  now  saw  the  cause.  I 
was  dressed  differently  from  them.  I  had  on  a  long  black 
cloak  and  had  thrown  my  black  shawl  over  my  head  con- 
cealing my  bonnet,  and  carried  a  bag  on  my  arm  which 
contained  my  recommendations,  railway  passes,  etc.  I 
said:  "You  are  mistaken,  gentlemen,  I  am  not  Jack  the 
Ripper"  (removing  my  shawl),  "I  am  a  missionary  from 
America ;  and  preaching  at  the  Globe  Theater  every  night. 
Come  and  hear  me  there.  There  is  no  cause  for  this  tu- 
mult." The  General  and  his  wife  having  come  in,  we 
passed  out,  the  mob  following  us  several  blocks  with  shouts 
and  screams  giving  me  some  blows  as  we  went.  But  God 
delivered  us  from  their  cruel  hands. 

A   MOB  OF  DRUNKEN   WOMEN. 

Another  night  when  returning  from  the  Globe  Theater 
in  company  with  General  and  Mrs.  Evans  we  heard  a  great 
noise  up  the  street  and  soon  discovered  that  it  was  made 
by  a  mob  of  some  kind.  On  their  coming  nearer,  we  found 
it  was  an  immense  crowd  of  drunken  fallen  girls.  The 
General  said :  "Hide  yourselves  quick !  There  is  no  tell- 
ing what  they  might  do."  The  policemen  had  slunk  away — 
not  caring  to  try  to  make  any  arrests,  as  there  were  so 
many  of  them  and  they  were  so  violent.  Poor  souls !  They 
were  some  mothers*  girls  who  perhaps  had  learned  to  love 
the  taste  of  strong  drink  before  they  saw  the  light  and  were 
bound  by  both  inherited  and  acquired  appetite.  I  was  told 
that  on  an  average  there  were  four  drunken  women  in 
Glasgow  for  every  drunken  man.  Such  a  statement  seems 
.  beyond  belief,  but  during  our  stay  we  saw  much  to  indicate 
that  it  v:—  trre.  W1.  r.t  c-rv.ld  the  harvest  be? 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  383 

While  in  Scotland  1  received  a  very  precious  letter  of  en- 
couragement and  sympathy  from  Col.  Geo.  R.  Clarke  and 
wife  of  Pacific  Garden  Mission,  Chicago.  I  give  it  here 
and  the  reader  can  easily  realize  how  comforting  it  proved 

to  me. 

Chicago,  October  29,  1890. 
My  Dear  Sister  Wheaton: 

We  received  yours  written  from  Glasgow  last  night.  I  am  . sorry 
they  treat  you  so  badly  there.  But  that  is  the  way  nice  appearing 
people  treated  our  blessed  Lord  when  on  earth,  and  the  way  they 
would  treat  Him  now  should  He  come  to  earth  in  the  flesh.  But  it  is 
blessed  to  us,  said  Jesus,  when  men  persecute  us.  We  have  a  right 
then  to  rejoice  as  He  told  us. 

The  Lord  will  stand  by  you  as  He  did  by  Paul.  He  ''will  never 
leave  you  nor  forsake  you."  So  you  can  boldly  say:  "The  Lord 
is  my  helper  and  I  will  not  fear  what  man  shall  do  unto  me." 

The  Lord's  work  is  prospering  at  our  Mission  and  we  are  much 
encouraged  in  it.  We  have  large  meetings  and  many  precious  souls 
for  Christ  every  night. 

We  have  started  a  noonday  prayer-meeting  for  both  sexes.  The 
Lord  is  greatly  blessing  the  meetings.  We  have  souls  converted  there 
right  along  at  every  meeting. 

We  will  pray  for  you  and  may  the  dear  Lord  greatly  bless  you  in 
your  work  and  labor  of  love  which  you  do  in  His  name. 

We  have  only  a  little  time  left  now  to  wait  for  Him.  The  signs 
are  thickening  and  He  will  soon  rush  into  view  and  then  we  shall 
hear  Him  say,  "Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant,  enter  thou 
in  to  the  joy  of  thy  Lord."  Praise  His  dear  name.  Glory  to  God! 
Hallelujah!!!  What  a  meeting  that  will  be!  It  will  be  our  time 
to  laugh  then,  but  our  persecutors  will  weep  and  wail.  May  God 
be  merciful  to  them  now  and  give  them  repentance  before  that  awful 
day. 

Don't  be  in  a  hurry  to  die  and  go  to  heaven.  You  are  more  needed 
by  the  Lord  down  here  just  now  than  in  heaven.  There  are  no  sinners 
there  to  whom  to  preach  His  gospel  and  He  tells  us  to  "Go  and 
preach ' '  not  "go  to  heaven. ' '  He  will  take  us  all  home  in  His  own 


384  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

good  time.     Let  us  patiently  wait  for  Him  and  "occupy  until  He 
comes."     With  much  Christian  love  we  are  yours  in  Christ. 

COL.  AND  MRS.  GEO.  E.  CLARKE. 

IN   PAISLEY. 

I  was  summoned  by  telegram  to  go  on  to  Paisley,  Scot- 
land, to  hold  services  for  the  Gospel  Army  in  that  place. 
We  went  immediately.  Found  the  city  well  informed  of 
our  coming  by  large  striking  posters  which  read:  Hear 
the  American  Prison  Evangelists — Be  sure  to  hear  these 
ladies  who  have  preached  on  the  ruins  of  the  Johnstown 
horror !  Who  have  visited  all  the  prisons  of  note  in  Amer- 
ica— led  murderers  to  the  scaffold,"  etc.  I  was  not  accus- 
tomed to  such  sensational  advertising  and  tore  down  the 
posters  I  came  across  and  chided  with  the  General  for 
advertising  us  in  such  a  way.  He  kindly  explained  that  it 
was  customary  in  their  work  in  order  to  arrest  the  atten- 
tion of  the  people  and  arouse  interest  in  our  meetings.  Per- 
haps he  was  right  but  it  was  something  of  a  trial  to  me  to 
be  brought  before  the  people  in  that  way. 

We  found  much  to  do  in  Paisley,  not  only  in  the  night 
services  but  on  the  streets,  in  the  homes  of  refuge  and  in 
homes.  Found  twelve  hundred  girls  employed  in  the  Coats 
Thread  Works  and  eight  hundred  girls  in  Clark's  Thread 
Works.  Found  great  poverty  among  the  laboring  classes, 
as  there  was  much  dissipation  among  both  men  and  women. 

Just  before  leaving  Paisley  I  was  called  to  go  and  hold 
services  in  the  Refuge  for  Fallen  Women.  During  the 
services  there  did  not  seem  to  be  much  feeling  concerning 
their  soul's  salvation.  It  seemed  I  could  not  reach  them. 
At  last,  near  the  close  of  the  meeting,  I  said :  "Girls,  I  am 
going  away  to  my  own  land.  I  will  never  see  you  on  earth 
again.  Will  you  not  try  and  live  so  you  will  meet  me  in 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  385 

heaven?  If  so,  raise  your  hands.''  Not  one  hand  was 
raised.  Then  I  said,  "Girls,  won't  you  pray?"  No  sign 
yet.  "Girls,  shall  I  pray  for  you  when  far  away?  If  so, 
raise  your  hands?"  Not  a  hand  went  up.  I  was  almost 
discouraged.  Could  I  leave  that  great  crowd  of  lost  wo- 
men to  go  on  in  their  awful  career  without  at  least  one 
manifesting  a  desire  for  a  better  life?  How  could  I  meet 
them  at  the  Judgment?  At  last  I  said:  "Girls,  I  leave  to- 
morrow for  America.  I  am  all  alone.  Only  this  young 
woman  with  me.  How  many  of  you  will  pray  for  us  as  we 
cross  the  ocean  again  to  go  to  our  own  land?  If  any  one 
will  pray  for  us,  won't  you  raise  your  hand?"  Every  hand 
went  up,  and  God's  Holy  Spirit  crept  unawares  into  their 
hearts — so  long  unused  to  prayer,  and  the  spell  of  evil  was 
broken,  and  God  reached  them.  O  the  melting,  tender 
spirit  which  filled  the  room !  And  that  company,  I  believe, 
gave  God  their  hearts.  In  learning  to  pray  for  us,  their 
sisters,  they  found  God,  and  I  trust  to  meet  many,  if  not 
all,  of  those  dear  souls  in  heaven.  Jesus  said,  "Neither  do 
I  condemn  thee ;  go  and  sin  no  more."  And  then  the  con- 
fessions, the  tears,  the  promises !  Bless  God,  His  word  will 
not  return  void. 

Shortly  after  my  arrival  in  America  I  received  the  fol- 
lowing letter,  which  explains  itself,  from  the  matron  of 
this  Home: 

Female  Refuge,  Paisley,  Scotland,  March  23,  1891. 
Mrs.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Friend:  Glad  I  was  to  know  that  you  had  in  God's  good 
Providence  arrived  safe  at  home  among  your  dear  ones,  and  rejoice 
also  with  you  that  the  work  is  prospering  in  your  hand. 

I  have  been  called  upon  to  part  here  with  dear  ones  since  1  saw 
you,  but  they  are  gone  before  me  only  a  little  while.  My  assistants 
8,re  all  with  me  yet,  and  with  myself  had  much  pleasure  in  you' 


386  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

card.  We  often  talk  of  you  and  your  young  friend  that  accompanied 
you.  1  do  hope  she  is  still  with  you.  We  have  now  a  household  of 
thirty  inmates,  many  giving  proof  of  a  new  life  being  theirs  for 
time  and  eternity.  With  our  united  kind  regards,  I  am 

Yours  truly  in  the  Lord 's  work,        ANNIE  J.  BLUE. 

I  have  already  mentioned  the  fact  that  I  found  it  difficult 
to  gain  admittance  to  the  prisons  of  Scotland.  I  waited  in 
Edinburgh  for  days,  on  expense,  seeking  opportunity  to 
hold  at  least  one  service  in  the  large  prison  there.  While 
waiting  I  held  services  in  the  jail  and  missions  and  open 
air.  Our  meetings  in  the  open  air  were  largely  attended, 
not  only  by  the  working  classes,  but  also  by  others  who 
would  stop  and  listen,  being  attracted,  at  first,  by  the  sing- 
ing which  usually  drew  large  crowds.  We  were  much 
blessed  in  these  services  and  especially  in  the  slums  where 
large  numbers  of  neglected  children  gathered  around  us, 
ragged  and  dirty,  but  with  hearts  glad  to  learn  to  sing  with 
us. 

RETURN  TO  AMERICA. 

Various  circumstances  combined  that  seemed  to  require 
my  return  to  America  and  after  nearly  two  months  of  con- 
stant toil  in  Glasgow,  Edinburgh,  and  Paisley,  we  hurried 
to  Liverpool  and  November  15  took  shipping  for  New 
York  on  the  steamship  Wisconsin.  On  this  return  voyage 
we  encountered  another  fearful  storm  in  which  many  ships 
went  down. 

The  storm  raged  about  four  days.  Men  and  women  were 
in  great  fear ;  some  weeping,  some  screaming,  some  praying, 
and  some  cursing.  Among  all  that  multitude  there  .were 
only  four  Christians ;  only  four  souls  ready  to  face  eternity ! 

But  our  God  is  a  very  present  help  in  time  of  trouble. 
There  in  that  terrible  hour,  I  was  conscious  of  His  pres* 


OR   A   LABOR  OF   LOVE  387 

ence  and  I  knew  that  He  was  able  to  deliver  us.  When 
the  storm  had  abated,  with  a  heart  full  of  gratitude  and 
thanksgiving,  I  tried  to  sing,  but  could  only  utter  softly 
the  words  of  one  old-time  hymn : 

"How  firm  a  foundation  ye  saints  of  the  Lord." 

So  wonderfully  did  God  deliver  us  that  in  spite  of  that 
fearful  storm  we  reached  Xew  York  harbor  after  being 
only  twelve  days  at  sea. 

On  board  these  steamers  a  religious  service  is  held 
every  Lord's  day.  but  it  is  usually  led  by  the  captain  who 
is  often  an  ungodly  man.  Many  seemed  to  ease  their 
guilty  consciences  by  observing  this  form  of  religion. 
But  my  heart  was  often  left  more  hungry  and  sad  by  a 
service  which  seemed  to  me  mere  form  if  not  a  farce  and 
mockery. 

During  this  return  trip  I  supposed  I  was  about  out  of 
money,  and  was  somewhat  tempted  to  doubt  the  prom- 
ises, and  I  prayed  much  for  guidance.  When  almost 
ready  to  land  I  took  from  my  purse  my  small  stock  to 
have  the  steward  get  it  changed  for  U.  S.  money,  and  to 
my  glad  surprise  I  found  in  another  part  of  the  purse  a 
pound  note.  I  could  not  tell  how  it  came  to  be  there. 
So  I  felt  reproved  for  my  lack  of  faith. 

Among  my  old  papers  I  find  a  touching  letter  written 
by  a  dear  young  sister  to  whom  I  became  much  attached 
while  in  Scotland.  Had  it  not  been  that  her  family  were 
largely  dependent  upon  her  she  would  have  gone  with 
me  in  my  work.  I  give  the  following  extract: 

Glasgow,  Nov.  17.  1390. 

My  Dear  Sister  in  Jesus: 

I  received  your  card  Saturday  night:  and  was  very  much  surprised 
to  learn  that  you  had  gone  so  suddenly.  But  not  our  will  but  God 's 
will  be  done.  Dear  sister.  1  hope  you  and  Nellie  will  have  a  safe 


388  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

passage  across  the  ocean  and  may  the  dear  Savior  be  very  present  to 
both  of  you.  You  have  His  blessed  promise,  "Fear  them  not;  for  I 
am  with  thee. " 

Mrs.  P and  the  husband  were  asking  very  kindly  after  you. 

Mr.  L could  scarcely  credit  that  you  had  gone  home  so  sud- 
denly. Several  others  also  in  the  hall  wish  you  a  special  blessing 
in  your  effort  to  win  souls  for  the  Master,  who  will  reward  you  in 
His  own  time. 

Dear  sister,  you  do  not  know  and  you  will  never  know  until  you  are 
within  the  Pearly  Gates,  how  many  precious  souls  have  been  brought 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  through  you. 

May  the  dear  Lord  make  us  truly  Holy  Ghost  workers  and  may 
we  have  a  desire  to  point  sinners  to  Jesus — the  all-sufficient  one — 
the  author  and  finisher  of  our  salvation.  Glory  to  God !  May  we  be 
more  and  more  like  Jesus,  humble,  meek  and  mild,  loving  one  another 
as  the  Lord  has  also  loved  us.  May  we  be  clean,  empty  vessels  for 
the  Master's  use.  Dear  Jesns,  do  strip  us  of  everything  that  would 
hinder  the  blessing  and  would  keep  our  joy  from  being  full.  Write 
soon ;  and  if  we  do  not  meet  again  on  earth,  with  God 's  help  we  will 
meet  in  heaven,  Praise  God!  Your  loving  sister  in  Jesus, 

RACHEL  SMITH. 

SECOND   VISIT   TO    EUROPE. 

In  the  year  1896  the  Lord  made  plain  to  me  that  it  was 
His  will  that  I  should  again  go  to  Europe.  While  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  I  was  led  to  return  to  Iowa,  and  there  found 
that  a  band  of  missionaries  who  were  ready  to  start  for 
Africa  had  been  praying  that  I  might  come  and  go  with 
them  as  far  as  New  York.  When  they  saw  me  alight  at 
their  door,  they  shouted  and  praised  the  Lord.  When  I 
asked  them  the  reason  they  said  because  God  had  an- 
swered prayer — that  they  had  prayed  God  to  send  me  to 
see  them  off  for  Africa. 

While  we  were  holding  a  few  meetings  in  Philadelphia 
I  felt  directed  to  go  on  with  them  as  far  as  London,  so  pur- 
chased my  ticket  with  theirs,  taking  steerage  passage 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  389 

across  the  ocean  for  the  third  time.  Immediately  after  get- 
ting my  ticket  there  came  upon  me  a  wonderful  outpouring 
of  the  Spirit  and  an  assurance  that  was  unmistakable  that 
I  was  in  divine  order.  When  I  told  those  young  mission- 
aries I  was  going  with  them  as  far  as  London  they  told  me 
they  had  been  praying  that  I  might  be  led  to  do  that  very 
thing.  After  a  safe  voyage  we  reached  Southampton  in 
seven  days. 

One  Sabbath  afternoon  in  London  when  we  were  hold- 
ing an  open-air  meeting  on  the  street,  God  opened  the  flood- 
gates of  Heaven,  and  I  with  others  sang  and  preached  un- 
der the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  A  Christian  came  and 
said,  "Sister  Wheaton,  there  is  a  pre**her  here  who  wants 
to  speak  to  you."  I  refused  to  go,  as  there  were  drunkards 
and  toughs  on  their  knees  under  conviction  of  sin.  I 
thought  he  was  a  preacher  who  wanted  to  criticise  my  meth- 
ods. They  called  me  again,  and  I  went  to  see  what  was 
wanted.  I  found  a  fine-looking,  well-dressed  man  much 
past  middle  age  under  awful  conviction  of  sin.  He  was  a 
backslider,  and  had  stopped  in  passing,  being  attracted  by 
a  hymn  I  was  singing — one  his  mother  used  to  sing.  Yet 
he  was  unwilling  to  yield  himself  to  God.  Some  of  those 
in  the  company  had  talked  with  him  and  begged  him  to 
kneel.  At  last  his  stubborn  will  was  broken,  and  he  knelt 
there  on  that  London  street  and  confessed  his  sins  to  God. 
When  he  arose  from  his  knees  he  said  he  had  been  on  his 
way  with  a  dagger  then  in  his  coat  sleeve,  to  commit  suicide, 
but  was  attracted  by  that  song  his  mother  used  to  sing,  and 
could  go  no  further.  Thus  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
that  Presiding  Elder  was  saved  on  the  streets  through  faith- 
ful, honest  trust  in  God,  where  the  preacher  and  the  drunk- 
ard knelt  side  by  side  in  the  dust.  I  hope  to  meet  them  in 


39<D  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Heaven,  and  trust  that  all  found  peace  with  God.  The 
word  says,  ''Go  out  in  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  and 
in  the  hedges  and  highways."  "Jesus  came  to  seek  and  to 
save  that  which  was  lost,"  not  the  righteous  but  sinners. 
He  came  to  save.  How  often  people  are  waiting  for  Chris- 
tians, who  profess  to  have  salvation,  to  speak  to  them,  and 
how  glad  they  are  to  receive  the  message  if  delivered  in  love. 

I  was  located  for  a  time  at  Woolwich,  near  the  London 
Arsenal.  There  were  stationed  thousands  of  soldiers  and 
they  were  often  found  in  the  public  houses  under  the  in- 
fluence of  drink.  I  would  plead  with  them  to  quit  sinning, 
turn  to  God,  and  seek  salvation.  Often  tears  were  shed,  and 
resolves  made  to  serve  the  Lord.  There  are  many  incidents 
of  souls  being  saved  on  the  streets,  in  the  slums  and  public 
houses,  but  space  forbids  my  going  into  details,  but  suffice 
it  to  say  that  I  have  been  given  many  proofs  of  God's  love 
and  mercy  from  among  the  thousands  who  have  heard  the 
gospel  in  those  far-off  lands,  as  well  as  in  our  home  land. 
Then  let  us  encourage  our  missionaries  everywhere  to  press 
on  until  the  Master  says,  "It  is  enough,  come  up  higher." 

I  was  much  pained,  while  in  England,  to  see  so  many 
young  women  there,  as  in  Scotland,  selling  beer  and  other 
strong  drink  to  customers  in  the  public  houses;  beautiful 
girls  selling  their  souls  to  the  tempter  to  be  lost  forever  un- 
less in  some  way  rescued  before  it  is  too  late. 

During  this  second  visit  to  Europe  I  was  often  stopped 
on  the  street  and  asked  to  sing  to  the  people,  which  I  fre- 
quently did,  regardless  of  remarks  or  criticisms,  and  the 
Lord  blessed  my  singing  to  the  good  of  many  souls.  While 
in  London,  night  after  night  I  would  sing  and  preach  the 
gospel  to  people  who  longed  for  salvation,  but  knew  not 


OR    A    LAI5OR    OF    LOVE  391 

how  to  get  saved.  How  often  we  neglect  an  opportunity  to 
do  good.  Years  after  some  of  our  missionaries  returning 
from  Africa,  passing  through  London,  heard  the  people  call- 
ing to  them,  ''Where  is  that  old  lady  who  sang  for  us?"  So 
we  labor  not  in  vain.  In  due  season  we  shall  reap  if  we  faint 
not. 

After  spending  several  weeks  in  England  (most  of  the 
time  in  London)  I  saw  that  precious  band  of  young  mis- 
sionaries take  the  steamer  for  Africa.  The  next  day  I  em-, 
barked  for  home  at  Southampton.  Soon  after  starting'  we 
sighted  the  vessel  on  which  they  sailed  and  I  could  distin- 
guish some  of  them  waving  their  handkerchiefs  in  farewell. 
One  of  them  died  in  Africa  ten  months  later.  By  and  by 
we  shall  meet  again  in  the  Kingdom  of  heaven,  each  one,  I 
trust,  bringing  with  us  sheaves  to  lay  at  Jesus'  feet. 

During  the  return  voyage  the  sea  was  stormy  at  times, 
yet  the  voyage  was  made  safely,  and  on  Sabbath  morning, 
the  day  after  my  arrival  in  New  York,  I  went  to  the  Tombs 
prison  to  hold  services.  I  was  very  tired,  and  after  the 
services  I  was  so  faint  I  prayed  for  the  Lord  to,  open  the 
way  for  me  to  have  some  refreshments,  as  I  was  to  preach 
in  the  afternoon  at  a  Rescue  Mission.  There  were  many 
elegantly  dressed  lady  visitors  at  that  meeting,  but  they  all 
passed  out  and  left  me  alone,  when  a  young,  humble-looking 
man  came  to  me  and  said,  "We  are  very  poor,  and  are  able 
to  afford  but  one  meal  a  day,  and  not  a  full  meal  at  that,  but 
it  would  be  such  a  blessing  to  my  wife  and  myself  if  you 
would  come  and  share  it  with  us.'?  My  heart  was  touched 
that  this  stranger  should  offer  to  share  the  little  they  had, 
when  others  never  thought  of  my  needs.  I  did  not  go  with 
him.  although  I  thanked  him ;  it  was  so  far  to  his  home,  but 
God  will  reward  him.  For  Jesus  said,  "I  was  a  stranger 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 


and  ye  took  me  in,  hungry  and  ye  fed  me  ;  I  was  in  prison 
and  ye  came  unto  me,  sick  and  ye  visited  me." 


Behold  a  homeless  wanderer,  poor  and  thinly  clad, 

To  biting  cold  a  victim,  with  hunger  almost  mad, 

Entering  yonder  mansion,   dares  to  boldly  steal" 

What  none  should  e  'er  deny  a  dog — the  pittance  of  a  meal ! 

See  the  greedy  sleuth-hounds  of  the  outraged  law 

Wage  against  this  robber  an  unrelenting  war; 

While  Christian  judge  and  jury,  with  ready  wit,  declare 

His  crime  an  awful  outrage,  that  merits  prison  fare! 

But  he  who  rears  his  costly  domes 

O'er  wreck  and  ruin  of  human  homes, 

Plants  in  the  breast  a  raging  thirst 

And  leaves  his  victims  doubly  cursed, 

Can  roll  in  luxury,  loll  in  pride 

And,  with  the  law,  his  gain  divide! 

Tho '  every  dime  he  pays  the  state 

A  thousand  cost  in  wakened  hate! 

— Geo.  W.  H.  Harrison. 


Learn  that  in  many  a  loathsome  cell 
A  prisoned  genius  or  a  saint  may  dwell, 
Whose  power,  developed  by  an  act  of  love, 
May  lead  a  million  to  the  Courts  above. 
Shall  it  be  yours  to  touch  that  vibrant  chord 
And  share  the  honor  of  the  great  reward? 
What  heaven  endorses  that  alone  can  stand; 
All  else  is  stubble,  built  on  shifting  sand. 

— G.  W.  H.  H. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 
Travel  and  Toil. 

TWO  NIGHTS'  SERVICE. 

At  one  time  when  suffering  from  nervous  prostration  I 
was  lovingly  cared  for  for  some  weeks  in  the  home  of  dear 
brother  H.  L.  Hastings,  of  Boston.  One  night  while  there 
I  said  to  him :  "I  must  go  to  the  city  tonight."  He  replied: 
"Sister  Wheaton,  have  you  prayed  about  it?"  I  said,  "Yes." 
He  answered,  "Go  and  pray  again."  I  did  so  and  returned 
to  his  office,  saying,  "I  must  go  to  the  city  tonight."  They 
were  having  watchnight  service  in  the  city.  Again  he  re- 
plied: "The  night  is  very  cold  and  you  are  sick.  Go  and 
pray  and  find  out  the  mind  of  God."  Again  I  went  to  my 
room  to  inquire  diligently  of  the  Lord  and  was  sure  that 
the  call  of  the  Spirit  was  that  I  should  go.  Again  I  re- 
turned to  his  office  and  told  him  I  must  go  to  the  city  that 
night.  Once  more  he  replied:  "Sister  Wheaton,  go  and 
pray."  As  I  wept  before  the  Lord  He  showed  me  the  city 
given  up  to  idolatry  and  sin  and  again  I  went  to  Brother 
Hastings'  office  and  said:  "I  must  go  to  the  city."  He 
dropped  his  pen  and  hurriedly  said:  "Wife  and  I  will  go 
with  you."  It  was  one  of  the  coldest  nights  Boston  had 
known  for  years,  but  from  one  saloon  to  another  the  Lord 
led  us  and  from  one  watchnight  meeting  to  another  until 
near  midnight  we  entered  a  Mission  hall.  A  fine-looking, 
well-dressed  young  man  from  the  platform  hurried  down 
and  said  to  me :  "Mother,  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you.  Come 
on  the  platform  and  speak  to  the  people."  I  looked  at  the 
man  and  he  said:  "Don't  you  know  me,  mother?"  When 
I  said  "No,"  he  answered:  "Don't  you  know  your  boy?" 


3Q6  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

I  looked  at  him — so  beautiful  in  the  service  of  God — and 
then  he  said :  "I  was  in  prison  and  you  came  and  prayed 
and  sang  for  me.  I  was  in  the  hospital,  and  got  saved 
there,  and  God  is  still  blessing  your  boy."  Reader,  did  it 
pay?  Yes,  that  night  my  heart  rejoiced  in  my  Savior  for 
all  He  had  done  for  me  and  for  my  "children"  in  prison 
walls.  For  seventeen  years  now  this  man  has  been  a  bless- 
ing in  helping  to  save  others. 

Another  watchnight  I  spent  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Feel- 
ing weary,  I  was  about  to  retire  for  the  night,  when  the 
Lord  showed  me  to  go  on  the  street  and  do  service  for  Him. 
So,  doubting  not,  I  pressed  out  for  a  cold  night's  work  in 
the  slums.  .  The  sister  who  entertained  me  went  with  me. 
to  the  places  of  sin  and  also  to  six  different  vatch-meetings, 
at  which  we  witnessed  for  the  Master,  leaving  the  results 
with  the  Lord,  who  said:  "And  the  books  were  opened, 
and  another  book  was  opened,  which  is  the  book  of  life; 
and  the  dead  were  judged  out  of  trios**  things  which  were 
written  in  the  books,  according  to  their  works." 

ONE  WEEK'S  WORK. 

A  few  years  since,  on  arriving  in  Omaha  after  returning 
from  the  East,  I  telephoned  the  jailer  at  the  county  jail: 
"Can  I  have  a  meeting?"  "Yes,"  came  the  reply.  There 
were  a  good  many  prisoners  and  we  had  a  good  service. 
Sister  Kelley,  of  Tabor,  Iowa,,  was  with  me.  Our  singing 
seemed  much  appreciated.  Went  from  there  to  the  city  jail. 
Held  services  there,  and  in  the  evening  in  a  Rescue  Mis- 
sion. 

At  midnight  we  boarded  the  train  for  Deer  Lodge,  Mon- 
tana. En  route  our  train  stopped  for  a  couplt  of  hours  at 
Ogden,  Utah,  and  while  there  we  visited  the  Florence  Crit- 
tenton  Rescue  Home — where  we  were  warmly  welcomed  by 


OR   A   LABOR  OF   LOVE  397 

both  the  matron  and  the  girls  and  had  a  blessed  service.  God 
bless  them  all ! 

We  arrived  at  the  State  prison  at  Deer  Lodge  on  Satur- 
day and  had  the  privilege  of  preaching  to  the  many  prison- 
ers the  following  day.  God  blessed  me  in  speaking,  both  to 
the  men  and  women.  We  sang  many  old-time  hymns  and 
some  new  ones.  Took  each  prisoner  by  the  hand  as  they 
passed  out,  visited  the  sick  prisoners  and  went  to  two 


PRISON    AT    DEER    LODGE,    MONT. 

churches  that  night,  and  visited  the  women  prisoners  on 
Monday  morning,  and  had  real  victory  in  prayer  for  them. 
Then  bidding  goodbye  to  all  we  left  for  the  prison  at  Boise 
City,  Idaho,  where  we  arrived  Tuesday.  Telephoned  the 
warden  asking  permission  to  hold  service  at  the  prison. 
The  privilege  was  granted  and  a  team  was  sent  for  us.  We 
found  a  large  number  of  prisoners  and  the  officials  kind, 
and  had  a  good  service  of  an  hour.  Visited  the  poor,  con- 
demned men  in  their  cells,  prayed  and  wept  with  them,  and 
Commended  them  to  the  great  loving  God  who  said: 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

'Though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be  white  as 
snow;  though  they  be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as 
wool."  After  seeing  the  sick  we  left  the  prison;  but  my 
heart  was  greatly  drawn  out  for  those  men  under  death 
sentence.  I  felt  that  one  of  them  (a  foreigner)  was  inno- 
cent. I  was  almost  overcome  with  sorrow.  They  were  my 
"children"  and  I  never  would  see  them  again  in  this  world, 
and  yet  I  was  powerless  to  help  them ! 

From  Boise  City  we  went  to  Salt  Lake  City.  When  we 
arrived  at  the  penitentiary  there  and  mentioned  our  desire 
to  hold  a  service  the  warden's  kind  wife  said:  "The  war- 
den is  in  the  city  and  they  are  under  contract  and  must  get 
their  work  done  immediately — but  you  lie  down  and  rest — 
you  are  worn  out"  (and  I  was).  So  I  slept  until  I  heard 
her  tender  voice,  saying,  "Mrs.  Wheaton,  lunch  is  ready 
and  the  warden  says  he  will  give  you  forty  minutes  after 
dinner  in  the  chapel  with  the  men."  I  was  so  glad  and  said : 
"This  is  all  through  your  kindness  and  God  will  reward 
you."  I  found  the  men  seated,  waiting  for  me,  in  the  chap- 
el and  thankfully  I  improved  that  opportunity,  knowing  that 
eternity  would  reveal  the  results  of  that  service.  I  was  per- 
mitted to  see  the  two  men  under  death  sentence  and  sing 
and  pray  with  them,  and  tell  them  of  a  Savior  "mighty  to 
save  and  strong  to  deliver ;"  then  with  sad  heart  I  left  them 
— never  to  meet  them  again  till  the  trumpet  should  sound. 
Precious  in  God's  sight  were  those  poor,  forsaken,  crimi- 
nals !  And,  reader,  as  I  write  these  lines  down  in  the  slums 
of  Chicago,  I  see  opposite  me  the  saloon  open  day  and  night 
luring  men  and  women  inside,  fitting  them  also  for  the 
prison  and  perhaps  for  the  scaffold! 

Leaving  the  prison  at  Salt  Lake,  we  hurried  to  the  coun- 
ty jail,  held  services  in  two  departments,  and  had  a  good 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  399 

time  with  the  prisoners ;  then  left  for  the  city  jail.  Did 
what  work  we  could  there  in  the  Lord's  name  and  hurried 
to  the  depot,  only  stopping  on  the  way  to  get  a  little  lunch 
for  the  long  journey  before  us.  Weary  and  faint  we 
reached  the  train  just  as  it  was  leaving.  Too  weak  to  go 
further  I  got  in  the  first  car,  which  proved  to  be  a  dining 
car.  I  said:  "The  boys  will  allow  me  to  sit  here  awhile, 
and  I  heard  a  voice  saying:  "Come  in,  mother,  sit  down. 
You  are  welcome  in  my  car  and  you  must  have  something 
to  eat.  You  look  tired  and  hungry" — and  wasn't  I?  And 
when  I  told  him  of  my  friend  in  another  car  he  had  me 
bring  her  also  and  gave  us  both  a  good  'supper,  and  was  I 
not  thankful  to  God  for  that  kind  welcome  from  the  dining 
car  conductor,  who  knew  me?  Surely  God  will  reward 
him.  I  hope  to  meet  and  know  him  in  that  land  where  we 
shall  never  get  weary  and  hungry. 

We  arrived  at  Rawlins,  Wyoming,  at  nine  the  next  morn- 
ing. We  hurried  to  the  prison.  It  was  Decoration  Day 
and  most  of  the  guards  were  off  for  a  holiday — the  men 
being  locked  in  their  cells.  The  warden  kindly  said  to  us: 
"I  wish  I  could  let  you  talk  to  the  men,  but  my  officers  are 
gone  and  there  is  no  one  to  guard  them,  and  I  a^i  com- 
pelled to  remain  at  the  office  to  see  after  business."  I  was 
sure  God  had  sent  us,  and  said:  "Will  you  permit  us  to  see 
the  men  in  their  cells?"  After  much  deliberation  he  said: 
"I'll  tell  you  what  I  will  do,  I'll  turn  the  men  loose  in  the  din- 
ing room  if  you  think  you  can  control  them,  and  let  you  have 
an  hour  to  talk  to  them."  I  said,  "Surely  I  can  manage 
those  men — why,  they  are  my  children,  sir,"  and  so  down 
the  men  came  from  their  cells  and  O  such  a  meeting !  I 
was  at  home  and  my  "boys"  were  on  their,  honor  and  I 
talked  to  them  as  a  mother  and  we  sang  together  hymns 


4OO  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

that  they  knew,  and  bless  God  He  was  guarding  the  men, 
and  I  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  matter  only  to  obey  Him 
and  tell  them  the  old,  old  story  of  the  redeeming  love  of  & 
Savior  who  died  to  save  us  from  our  sins  and  give  to  us 
eternal  life.  As  I  grasped  each  one  by  the  hand  at  parting, 
I  found  the  men  quiet  and  peaceable,  humbly  begging  me 
to  come  again.  Then  I  saw  the  heavy  iron  doors  close  be- 
tween us  and  knew  I  would  probably  never  see  them  to- 
gether again  as  we  were  there,  but  looked  forward  to  the 
great  day  in  which,  if  he  would,  each  man  could  have  a  part 
in  crowning  Jesus  Lord  of  lords  and  King  of  kings. 

After  having  dinner  with  the  few  officers  present  in  their 
own  dining  room  we  hurried  to  the  jail.  There  we  were 
permitted  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  prisoners  and  they 
received  us  gladly.  As  I  left  the  jailer  expressed  his  ap- 
preciation of  the  visit,  saying  it  was  so  good  of  us  to  'come 
to  help  the  prisoners — especially  the  girls. 

Arriving  at  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  we  attended  the  evening 
service  of  the  National  Campmeeting  then  in  progress  there 
and  the  next  morning  went  to  the  prison.  The  warden 
kindly  granted  us  the  privilege  of  a  gospel  service  with  the 
prisoners.  After  holding  this  service  and  visiting  the  sick 
in  the  hospital  we  returned  to  the  camp  ground.  Reached 
there  during  a  testimony  service  just  in  time  to  be  in- 
vited by  the  leader  to  sing  a  certain  hymn.  Instantly  I  was 
on  my  feet  and  soon  on  the  platform  sayimj,  "Yes,  I  will 
sing,  but  first  I  must  sing, 

"The  toils  of  the  road  will  seem  nothing 
When  we  get  to  the  end  of  the  way." 

And  shouts  of  praise  went  up  to  God  all  over  that  ground, 
for  He  especially  anointed  me  to  sing  that  hymn.  I  felt 
every  word  of  it,  for  though  weary  and  tired  from  the 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  40 1 

journey,  I  knew  God  had  been  with  me  and  had  given  vic- 
tory all  along  the  way. 

In  this  brief  sketch  I  have  failed  to  mention  some  services 
held  in  missions  and  also  special  services  on  all  the  trains 
on  which  we  traveled — perhaps  bringing  to  some  their  last 
warning. 

One  night  during  this  week's  journey  a  crowd  of  drunken 
men  boarded  the  train.  They  were  so  abusive  to  me  that 
I  went  outside  the  car  door.  When  I  went  in  the  next  car 
I  found  the  same  kind  dining  car  conductor  I  have  before 
mentioned.  At  his  inquiry  as  to  what  was  the  matter  I  just 
knelt  and  prayed  and  then  told  him  how  the  drunken  men 
had  acted.  He  said:  "Come  with  me.  This  won't  do.  I 
will  see  that  you  and  your  sister  have  a  sleeper."  He 
went  with  me  into  the  other  car,  and  when  the  men  saw  the 
man  in  uniform  with  me  they  tried  to  be  very  polite.  They 
were  under  the  influence  of  drink  and  in  a  sense  not  re- 
sponsible for  their  actions.  Who  is  responsible?  The  sa- 
loon, the  brewery,  the  devil  who  uses  these  things  to  make 
men  and  women  oftentimes  more  like  fiends  than  creatures 
made  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  God,  and  all  who  fail  to 
use  their  influence  against  the  liquor  traffic  are  respon- 
sible. 

From  Lincoln  we  went  to  Omaha  where  we  parted  feel- 
ing that  the  days  had  been  spent  for  God  and  souls — the 
dear  sister  to  return  to  her  work  in  the  missionary  train- 
ing home  at  Tabor,  Iowa,  I  to  hurry  on  to  Chicago,  taking 
with  me  one  of  the  sisters  I  met  for  the  first  time  in  the 
slum  mission  work  in  Omaha  a  week  previous. 

So  we  turned  over  that  week's  work  to  the  Lord  of  the 
harve'st,  who  will  see  that  the  seed  scattered  along  life's 
pathway  shall  bring  forth  fruit  unto  eternal  life. 


4°2  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

A    PROFITABLE    TRIP. 

Walking  along  the  street  in  Chicago  on  my  way  to  the 
Cook  County  Jail  to  see  the  "car-barn  bandits"  and  one  or 
two  others  under  death  sentence,  I  was  impressed  that  I 
must  go  to  some  State  Prison  for  Easter,  only  two  days 
off.  I  stopped  and  prayed,  inquiring  of  the  Lord  where  he 
would  have  me  go. 

I  had  been  east  and  just  'arrived  in  the  city,  weary  and 
worn,  but  I  knew  the  voice  of  God  was  saying,  "Go!" 
but  where  and  by  what  route  I  knew  not.  I  stood  still  un- 
til the  Lord  made  it  plain  to  go  westward — to  what  place 
I  need  not  know,  but  to  go  to  the  railroad  office  and  get 
transportation.  When  I  entered  the  office  the  kind  official 
said,  "What  can  I  do  for  you,  Mother?"  At  first  I  an- 
swered, "I  hardly  know  what  to  ask  for,  as  it  is  not  yet 
plain  to  me  just  where  to  go ;  but  a  little  later  I  said  to  him, 
"I  must  go  to  Canon  City,  Colorado."  "All  right,"  he 
said,  and  gave  me  transportation.  It  was  then  too  late,  un- 
der ordinary  circumstances,  to  visit  the  jail,  but  I  felt  that 
I  must  see  those  condemned  boys  before  their  execution, 
and  I  prayed  that  God  would  open  my  way  and  incline  the 
heart  of  the  jailer,  Mr.  Whitman,  to  grant  me  the  desired 
opportunity.  To  my  surprise  I  found  Mr.  Whitman  on 
the  street  car.  I  told  him  that  I  must  leave  the  city  at 
once  for  western  prisons  and  asked  if  he  would  kindly  give 
me  permission  to  see  the  condemned  men  who  were  in  his 
charge,  before  I  left,  as  I  could  not  return  before  the  day 
set  for  execution.  He  was  very  kind  and  answered,  "Yes, 
I  will  send  an  officer  with  you  to  see  the  boys." 

That  hour  will  never  be  forgotten.  Instead  of  tough, 
rough  looking  men  I  found  "mother's  boys"  in  the  prime  of 
their  young  manhood.  Kindly,  tenderly  I  talked  to  them, 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  403 

thinking  to  myself,  what  if  it  were  my  boy,  now  safe  in 
Heaven  ?  O  sisters,  it  seemed  to  me  my  heart  would  break 
as  I  placed  my  hands  on  their  heads,  so  soon  to  be  cold  in 
death  and  commended  them  to  the  God  who  sent  His  only 
begotten  Son,  who,  when  on  the  cross,  said,  "Father,  for- 
give them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do !"  I  left  the 
prison,  praying  that  my  message  might  not  be  in  vain. 

Upon  leaving  Chicago  over  the  Santa  Fe  railroad  on  my 
way  west,  I  prayed  earnestly  for  direction  as  to  what  prison 
I  should  visit  on  Easter  Sunday  and  was  impressed  to 
stop  at  Joliet.  The  warden,  Mr.  Murphy  x  and  his  estimable 
wife  were  kind  and  hospitable,  as  they  always  are,  and  the 
chaplain  was  willing  that  I  should  have  a  part  in  the  ser- 
vices on  the  Sabbath.  God  was  present  in  power  in  all  the 
services.  Many  of  the  prisoners  partook  of  the  communion 
with  their  teachers  and  chaplain. 

The  Lord  alone  can  reward  the  warden's  wife  for  her 
special  kindness  to  me  at  this  time,  for  I  was  taken  sick 
from  overwork  and  detained  over  Monday.  I  then  left 
at  midnight  for  Topeka,  Kansas,  where  the  Lord  sent  me 
to  the  railroad  shops  to  hold  services  at  the  noon  hour 
while  the  men  were  resting  after  lunch.  Our  meeting  with 
them  was  signally  owned  and  blessed  of  God.  At  its  close 
I  shook  hands  with  each  of  those  hundreds  of  men  and 
then  went  to  the  jail  where  the  Lord  again  graciously  met 
with  us. 

Reaching  Pueblo  on  our  way  to  Canon  City  we  telephoned 
the  jailer — also  the  matron  of  the  Rescue  Home — and  ob- 
tained permission  to  hold  services  at  each  on  our  return. 

At  Canon  City  the  warden  and  his  wife  gave  us  a  most 
kind  and  courteous  welcome  and  he  granted  the  privilege 
of  holding  services  for  the  prisoners  in  the  chapel,  also  at 


4°4  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

the  hospital  and  cell  houses.  I  visited  their  night  school. 
It  was  very  interesting  to  see  so  many  teaching  other  pris- 
oners. The  most  important  part  of  my  work  at  Canon  City, 
however,  was  seeing  three  young  men  who  were  under 
death  sentence.  While  I  prayed  day  after  day  for  them, 
they  came  to  see  their  true  condition  before  God  and,  I 
believe,  gave  evidence  of  true  repentance.  I  hope  to  meet 
them  all  in  Heaven. 

But  oh,  what  a  sad  sight  to  see  those  young  men  in  the 
prime  of  life,  sentenced  to  die ;  and  all  on  account  of  strong 
drink. 

How  pitifully  they  talked  of  home  and  mother  and  inno- 
cent childhood  days !  Their  hearts  were  melted  and  broken. 
Poor  boys!  far  away  from  home  and  friends,  with  few  to 
care  and  many  to  cry  out,  "They  deserve  to  die" — never 
seeing  the  cause,  the  rum  traffic.  Why  not  stop  that  which 
sends  our  young  men  by  the  thousands  to  a  drunkard's  or 
a  criminal's  grave?  When  I  bade  these  young  men  fare- 
well they  were  cheerful  and  confident  that  the  Lord  had 
forgiven  them. 

Arriving  at  Pueblo  on  the  return  trip,  we  went  to  the 
Rescue  Home  where  we  received  a  kind  welcome;  also 
held  services  in  the  prison  there.  I  forgot  to  mention  ser- 
vices held  in  jail  and  almshouse  while  in  Canon  City. 

At  Denver  we  found  friends  who  received  us  kindly.  We 
held  services  in  their  mission  church.  Also  held  service 
in  the  large  jail  in  which  I  conducted  the  first  meeting  ever 
held  after  it  was  built. 

Leaving  Denver  we  went  to  Lincoln,  Neb.,  to  hold  ser- 
vices in  the  State  Prison  on  the  Sabbath.  Found  there  my 
friends,  Warden  Beemer  and  wife,  who  have  always  been 
so  kind  to  me.  Our  meetings  were  crowned  with  success 


OR   A   LABOR   OF   LOVE  4Cj 

and  victory.     Also  did  personal  work,  which  is  important. 

While  I  was  there,  two  new  prisoners  were  brought  in. 

Left  Monday  for  Omaha  and  went  at  once  to  the  County 
Jail  and  held  meetings  in  the  three  different  wards.  God 
blessed  His  own  word  to  the  good  of  souls !  There,  as  else- 
where, I  met  some  who  knew  me.  From  Omaha  I  went 
to  Chicago,  where  I  spent  some  time  in  missions,  etc. 

six  WEEKS'  SERVICE. 

About  July  i,  1904,  I  spent  some  time  in  St.  Louis,  vis- 
iting the  slums,  dives  and  saloons,  faithfully  warning  the 
multitudes  I  found  in  sin.  Left  there  for  Jefferson  City, 
where  I  held  services  in  the  State  Prison.  We  give  here 
the  following  extract  written  by  the  sister  who  accompanied 
me  on  this  trip : 

MY  TRIP  TO  JEFFERSON  CITY. 

I  was  glad  to  have  the  opportunity  of  visiting  the  prison  in  Jef- 
ferson City  with  Mother  Wheaton,  who  is  one  of  our  oldest  and  most 
successful  prison  workers. 

We  were  off  early  Saturday  morning,  July  2,  and  arrived  there  at 
12 : 30  o  'clock.  We  had  dinner,  then  went  to  the  prison.  The  guard 
first  took  us  to  see  the  women.  They  were  all  seated  at  machines, 
sewing  very  rapidly,  and  I  was  told  I  was  not  allowed  to  speak  to 
them.  My  heart  ached  and  I  could  not  keep  back  the  tears  as  I 
Icoked  on  the  precious  girls  I  had  labored  with  in  the  jail  at  St. 
Louis,  some  seven  or  eight  of  them.  At  6  o  'clock  we  had  a  short 
meeting  with  a  hundred  and  fifty  shop  girls.  Many  of  them  were 
moved  to  tears,  and  we  believe  good  was  accomplished.  Sunday 
morning  we  had  a  good  meeting  in  the  jail,  then  at  2:30  went  back 
to  the  prison  and  gave  the  gospel  to  twenty-two  hundred  convicts.  It 
was  a  blessed  time.  I  never  saw  such  attention,  and  while  Mother 
Wheaton  spoke  and  we  sang  "He  Pardoned  a  Rebel  Like  Me,"  I 
saw  some  of  them  wiping  the  tears  from  their  eyes.  These  men  are 
rot  all  hard-hearted.  As  I  looked  at  them  and  heard  almost  all  of 
them  join  in  with  us  and  sing  "We'll  Never  Say  Good-Bye  in 
Heaven,"  somehow  I  lost  sight  of  the  stripes  and  prison  walls  and 


406     -  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

bars,  and  thought  how  precious  they  are  in  God's  sight,  and  I  be- 
lieve many  will  be  gathered  to  praise  Him,  who  was  pierced  for  us 
aJl.  After  the  meeting  a  young  man  asked  permission  to  speak  to  us; 
Lis  face  shone  with  the  glory  of  God  as  he  told  how  he  had  been 
there  five  years,  and  had  been  saved  two  years  and  a  half  and  called 
to  preach  the  gospel.  He  proved  his  earnestness  when  Mother 
Wheaton  asked  if  he  would  let  her  try  to  get  him  pardoned,  and  he 
answered:  "No,  I  am  guilty,  and  I  not  only  feel  it  my  duty  to 
serve  my  time,  but  will  make  restitution  as  soon  as  I  am  out.  Then 
1  shall  give  myself  to  the  Lord's  work." 

Returning  to  St.  Louis  I  next  went  to  Denver,  Colo.,  to 
see  Governor  Peabody  in  behalf  of  the  three  young  men 
who  were  awaiting  execution.  The  governor  was  very 
kind  and  willing  to  do  what  was  right.  In  Denver  I  had 
services  in  the  jail,  also  spoke  at  two  meetings  and  preached 
at  night  at  a  mission  church.  Next  visited  the  State  Re- 
formatory for  Young  Men  at  Buena  Vista,  Colo.  Most  of 
the  officers  and  all  the  boys  attended  the  services.  Leaving 
here  in  the  evening  arrived  at  Salt  Lake  City  next  day 
about  noon.  I  hurried  to  the  State  Prison  and  was  sur- 
prised to  find  a  new  warden,  as  the  former  warden  had 
died.  It  being  a  working  day  had  only  a  short  service  with 
the  prisoners,  but  it  was  blessed  of  the  Lord.  Then  visited 
the  county  and  city  jails,  holding  three  services.  Leaving 
here,  traveling  all  night,  arrived  the  next  evening  at  Canon 
City,  Colo.  Hurrying  to  the  State  Prison  we  were  kindly 
received  and  permitted  to  hold  services  in  the  cell  houses 
till  9  o'clock.  The  warden  informed  me  that  one  of  the 
boys  under  death  sentence  had  gone  insane  just  the  day 
before  and  could  not  be  seen.  One  of  the  other  boys  under 
sentence  of  death  said  the  last  thing  that  this  one  had  done 
was  to  write  me  a  letter,  of  which  I  here  insert  an  extract : 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  4O/ 

CANON  CITY,  COLO.,  July  12,  1904. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: — 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  answer  your  welcome  letter,  which  was 
appreciated.  We  are  waiting  patiently  to  know  the  verdict.  If  it  is 
God's  will  that  I  must  be  taken  out  of  this  world,  I  will  go,  but  it  is 
very  hard,  as  I  have  done  nothing  worthy  of  death,  but  they  look  at 
it  different,  I  suppose.  Whatever  got  me  into  such  a  scrape  I  cannot 
tell.  I  have  always  worked  hard  for  my  living. 

Dear  Mother,  I  have  done  as  you  requested.  I  commenced  to 
read  the  New  Testament  on  the  28th  of  June  and  completed  it  on  the 
10th  of  July.  I  never  forget  to  read  the  Holy  Bible  and  to  pray. 

You  wished  to  know  if  we  boys  had  any  work  to  do.  It  is  be- 
yond the  warden's  power  to  let  us  work  under  the  circumstances, 
though  he. is  very  kind  to  us ;  also  the  other  officials.  We  are  allowed 
all  the  reading  matter  we  can  use  and  have  exercise  each  day. 

Dear  Mother  Wheaton,  I  hope  that  we  will  meet  again  on  earth. 
If  not,  I  pray  we  may  in  heaven.  And  may  our  Heavenly  Father 
protect  you  in  the  work  of  His  cause.  I  ever  remain  your  son  in. 
Jesus.  C— .  P— . 

Leaving  Canon  City  we  hurry  on,  visiting  next  the  State 
Prison  at  Lincoln,  Neb.  There  we  found  another  poor 
man  under  death  sentence,  who  gladly  listened  while  I 
taught  him  the  way  of  life.  Oh,  the  joy  that  filled  my  soul 
as  I  told  him  of  the  Savior  who  would  pardon  all  his 
sins.  After  seeing  the  other  prisoners  who  are  always  glad 
to  see  true  frietrX  we  hastened  on  to  Omaha,  Neb.  Here 
I  held  four  services  in  jails  and  Rescue  Homes.  When 
leaving  Omaha  as  I  was  singing  on  the  train  I  found  some 
ladies  crying ;  one  of  them,  grasping  my  hand,  said,  "When 
you  sang  'My  Name  in  Mother's  Prayer/  I  thought  how 
often  my  mother,  who  is  in  the  baggage  coach,  has  prayed 
for  me,  and  I  will  never  hear  her  pray  again."  I  soon 
changed  cars  and  bade  farewell  to  the  sorrowing  friends, 
hoping  to  meet  them  with  that  mother  where  there  is  no 
death  nor  tears. 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  4CK) 

Resting  for  a  short  time  at  Tabor,  Iowa,  I  then  went  to 
St.  Louis  and  on  to  Chester,  Hi.,  to  hold  services  in  the 
State  Prison.  We  were  here  four  days  and  held  services 
in  the  State  Prison,  jail,  and  Criminal  Insane  Hospital, 
where  there  are  more  than  one  hundred  inmates. 

Once  while  holding  services  here  one  young  man  was 
saved  and  his  mind  restored.  He  has  now  been  preaching 
the  Gospel  for  several  years.  "Is  there  anything  too  hard 
for  the  Lord?" 

We  next  visited  Gatesville,  Texas,  where  MS  located  the 
Reform  School  for  Boys.  Obtained  permission  to  see  the 
boys  and  it  fortunately  being  a  holiday  I  was  allowed  to 
hold  services  in  both  the  white  and  colored  wards.  The 
way  the  boys  seemed  to  enjoy  the  meetings  and  to  hear 
them  sing  was  encouraging.  Leaving  for  Huntsville,  Tex., 
we  went  to  different  towns,  holding  services  in  jails  and 
on  the  streets  till  Saturday,  when  we  arrived  at  Rusk, 
Texas,  and  were  met  by  the  chaplain,  Mr.  Dawson,  who 
treated  us  kindly  and  gave  me  the  privilege  of  holding  meet- 
ings on  the  Sabbath.  Had  a  very  impressive  service  in  the 
afternoon  in  the  prison  yard  where  we  gathered  round  a 
coffin  to  pay  the  last  tribute  of  love  to  a  departed  prisoner, 
after  which  we  held  a  meeting  in  the  prison  hospital. 

We  next  visited  the  State  Prison  at  Huntsville,  Texas, 
where  we  were  kindly  given  the  entire  time  in  chapel  ser- 
vice, and  also  the  privilege  of  holding  services  in  the  dif- 
ferent wards  of  the  hospital.  Here  all  seemed  encouraged 
and  were  much  effected,  the  tears  flowing  freely  upon  many 
of  the  pale  faces. 

I  received  upon  this  visit  the  following  kind  tribute  from 
the  Assistant  Superintendent  and  Prison  Physician: 

I  was  present  at  the  services  conducted  by   Mother  Wheaton  at 


4io 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 


the  Huntsville  Penitentiary,  on  August  7,  1904,  and  noticed  with 
nmch  satisfaction  that  her  remarks  and  singing  were  very  much 
appreciated  by  the  men,  and  many  of  them  seemed  very  much 
affected,  and  I  think  that  the  service  will  be  conducive  to  much  good 
hereafter.  T.  H.  BROWN, 

Assistant  Superintendent,  in  charge  Huntsville  Penitentiary. 


PRISON   AT   HUNTSVILLE,  TEXAS. 

Mother  Wheaton  visited  the  Huntsville  Prison  Hospital  this 
morning  and  I  think  her  words  of  cheer  and  advice  given  to  the  sick 
TV  ill  be  the  means  of  doing  great  good.  W.  E.  FOWLER, 

Prison  Physician. 

At  the  Woman's  Prison,  also  located  at  Huntsville,  we 
found  over  one  hundred  women  prisoners  all  working  on 
the  farm  except  the  few  white  women.  We  held  meetings 
with  these  women  in  the  afternoon  and  evening  for  three 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  417 

days,  which  were  blessed  of  the  Lord.  While  I  wept  with 
them  I  thought  of  the  Scripture,  "Weep  with  those  that 
weep."  Jesus  loved  me  and  saved  me  and  has  put  a  real 
love  in  my  heart  for  those  souls. 

The  kind  chaplain  took  us  with  his  invalid  wife  on  Sab- 
bath afternoon  to  visit  the  consumptives'  prison  a  few 
miles  from  Huntsville.  Here  the  prisoners  sick  with  con- 
sumption are  located  on  a  farm.  Had  a  blessed  meeting 
with  them.  The  weather  being  so  warm  my  health  would 
not  permit  me  to  visit  the  several  stockades  in  this  state, 
where  are  mines,  sugar  refineries  or  farms. 

Returning  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  worn  and  weary,  we  were 
kindly  entertained  at  the  Berachah  Home  for  Girls.  Again 
we  visited  the  slums,  missions,  and  dives.  The  sin  during 
these  fairs  and  expositions  is  awful  in  the  extreme.  I  have 
no  time  or  desire  to  go  to  see  the  sights,  but  am  after  souls. 

Next  we  went  to  Leavenworth,  Kan. ;  was  kindly  given 
the  hour  for  service  Sabbath  morning,  at  the  State  Prison 
at  Lansing,  also  a  service  with  the  women  prisoners.  Also 
visited  the  Soldiers'  Home,  and  by  the  kindness  of  the  su- 
perintendent was  permitted  to  speak  to  the  aged  soldiers. 

We  then  found  a  welcome  in  the  home  of  Sister  Two- 
good,  who  accompanied  us  to  the  Old  Ladies'  Rest,  where 
I  held  services  in  their  lovely  new  home.  In  the  evening 
till  after  10  o'clock  we  were  speaking  to  crowds  on  the 
streets  who  seldom  attend  church. 

Returning  then  to  Tabor,  Iowa,  weary  with  this  six  weeks' 
constant  service,  I  was  for  some  weeks  unable  to  travel. 
One  night  when  as  I  thought,  near  death,  I  cried  mightily 
to  God  and  he  heard  my  cry,  touched  my  body  and  healed 
me.  After  a  few  weeks'  rest,  yet  scarcely  able  to  travel, 
I  started  again  on  my  mission  seeking  the  lost. 


412  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

RECENT   WORK. 

During  these  weeks  of  waiting  the  responsibility  of  fin- 
ishing this  book  then  in  preparation,  and  getting  it  to  its 
readers  bore  heavily  upon  me.  Knowing  that  I  could  not 
attend  to  this  and  continue  my  work,  I  was  in  answer  to 
prayer  assured  that  I  should  be  relieved  of  the  burden  of 
managing  the  publication,  sale,  and  distribution  of  the  book. 
After  much  prayer  about  the  matter  I  was  relieved  of  this 
burden  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner,  Bro.  C.  M.  Kelley 
taking  the  management  of  the  same  for  the  Lord. 

While  yet  weak  in  body,  receiving  indication  from  the 
Lord  that  I  should  be  about  His  work,  I  went  on  my  way, 
taking  with  me  a  young  sister  from  the  Training  Home, 
who  expects  to  devote  her  life's  service  as  a  missionary  in 
Japan,  the  Holy  Spirit  assuring  her  also  that  she  should 
accompany  me  on  this  trip.  I  leave  it  for  her  to  write  the 
account  of  the  following  few  weeks'  work. 

I  was  blessed  with  an  opportunity  to  travel  a  few  weeks 
with  "Mother  Wheaton"  in  her  work  in  prisons,  etc.  Leav- 
ing the  Home  at  Tabor,  la.,  September  28,  1904,  we  first 
visited  the  jail  at  Council  Bluffs,  where  Mother  Wheaton 
held  a  Gospel  service.  A  number  of  the  prisoners  asked  for 
prayer.  We  next  went  to  Chicago,  where  on  the  Lord's 
day  we  visited  the  county  jail,  where  were  about  540  men 
and  a  few  women.  After  their  chapel  service  we  were 
given  access  to  the  corridors  where  we  could  talk  to  all. 
We  also  took  part  in  several  services  at  the  Beulah  Rescue 
Homes,  some  missions,  etc. 

On  October  15,  we  were  at  Ft.  Madison,  Iowa,  and  vis- 
ited the  several  wards  in  the  State  Prison  and  sang  and 
prayed  with  the  sick.  On  Sabbath  Mother  Wheaton  con- 
ducted services  in  the  chapel,  also  at  the  county  jail  and 
the  Santa  Fe  Railroad  Hospital. 


OP    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE 


413 


We  next  attended  the  National  Prisoa  Congress  in  ses- 
sion at  Quincy,  111.  We  here  had  opportunities  to  witness 
for  God.  Monday  evening,  by  invitation,  Mother  Wheaton 
spoke  at  the  Soldiers'  Home,  where  God  poured  out  His 
Spirit  and  melted  the  hearts  of  some  who  were  steeped  in 
sin.  The  following  morning  we  visited  the  hospital  and 
prayed  and  sang  with  the  sick  who  seemed  very  glad  to  hear 
the  good  old-time  hymns.  We  then  went  to  the  jail  where 
one  woman  accused  of  murder  was  especially  touched  and 
broken  up,  seeing  there  was  someone  who  loved  and  cared 
for  her.  It  is  the  love  of  Jesus  that  brings  sinners  to  re- 
pentance. The  day  following,  October  18,  we  held  service 
at  the  Chaddick  Boys'  School  which  is  under  Deaconess' 
management.  Here  Mother  Wheaton  spoke  to  ninety  young 
boys. 

Provision  was  made  for  those  in  attendance  at  the 
Prison  Congress  to  take  an  excursion  down  the  river,  but 
instead  of  going  with  this  company  we  went  to  the  House 
of  Correction,  where  the  superintendent  seemed  glad  to 
have  Mother  Wheaton  speak  to  the  prisoners,  both  men  and 
women,  even  calling  in  the  men  from  their  work. 

October  19  we  returned  to  Chicago.  The  next  morning 
we  took  the  train  for  Marquette,  Mich.,  on  the  shore  of 
Lake  Superior,  where  is  located  a  State  Prison.  Upon  our 
arrival  there  we  went  to  the  chaplain,  who  kindly  gave  per- 
mission to  conduct  the  next  Sabbath  morning  services.  We 
then  visited  the  poor  house,  where  we  sang  and  prayed 
with  those  who  were  lonely  and  sad,  and  knew  nothing  about 
Jesus.  On  Saturday  it  was  stormy,  but  Mother  Wheaton 
held  a  service  at  the  county  jail,  which  God  blessed. 
The  Lord's  day,  October  23,  was  a  day  long  to  be  remem- 
bered by  many  of  the  prisoners,  who  that  day  received  a 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  415 

ray  of  hope.  The  Spirit  of  God  so  anointed  Mother  Whea- 
ton  to  speak  that  the  prisoners  seemed  to  be  held  spell- 
bound, with  hearts  open  to  receive  every  word  and  song. 
In  the  afternoon  we  were  given  the  privilege  of  talking 
and  singing  in  the  corridors  and  speaking  to  the  prisoners 
in  their  cells.  It  was  told  us  that  these  were  the  worst 
men  in  the  state,  twenty-four  of  whom  were  serving  life 
sentences.  But  God  touched  their  hearts,  many  being  moved 
to  tears.  We  left  some  of  them  with  new  hopes,  calling  upon 
God  for  help  and  asking  us  to  pray  for  them.  Mother 
Wheaton  said  they  were  all  her  own  dear  boys. 

Journeying  eastward  we  held  services  in  Indianapolis, 
Ind.,  also  in  the  State  Prison  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  in 
the  Woman's  Prison  at  Allegheny,  Pennsylvania.  Sabbath 
morning,  November  5,  Mother  Wheaton  spoke  in  the  cor- 
ridors of  the  State  Prison  in  Philadelphia,  and  in  the  after- 
noon at  the  House  of  Correction.  Here  the  Lord  wonder- 
fully spoke  to  the  hearts  of  many  young  girls.  Many  men 
were  moved  upon  by  the  Spirit.  The  officers  looked  on 
with  amazement  to  see  how  attentive  they  all  seemed  to  be. 

At  Trenton,  -N.  J.,  at  the  county  jail  God  moved  upon 
hearts  and  many  asked  for  prayer. 

At  the  State  Prison  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  we  received  a  warm 
welcome  and  Mother  Wheaton  was  given  opportunity  to 
preach  on  the  following  Lord's  day  in  the  chapel.  We  vis- 
ited the  woman's  department  and  held  a  service  with  them, 
all  stopping  their  work  and  giving  attention.  God  melted 
the  hearts  of  those  women  who  have  gone  away  from  Him. 
Jesus'  blood  is  able  to  cleanse  from  every  stain. 

After  a  few  busy  days  of  service  in  New  York  city  we  re- 
turned to  Trenton,  for  the  service  in  the  prison  on  the  Sab- 
bath. We  then  returned  westward  by  way  of  Baltimore  and 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Washington,  D.  C.  We  next  held  a  service  in  the  prison  at 
Canton,  Ohio,  and  then  went  to  Mansfield  to  the  State  Re- 
formatory, where  were  nearly  a  thousand  young  men.  Here 
God  wonderfully  answered  prayer.  The  superintendent  and 
chaplain  were  very  kind,  supplying  us  with  such  things  as 
we  had  need  of.  We  arrived  in  Chicago  November  20. 
Leaving  there  we  went  by  way  of  Marion  and  Anamosa, 
Iowa,  where  we  held  services.  We  arrived  at  Tabor  on 
Thanksgiving  day,  November  24,  which  was  truly  a  thanks- 
giving day  with  us,  for  the  wonderful  way  in  which  God 
had  answered  prayer  and  brought  us  safely  through  so 
many  dangers  and  given  us  such  glorious  victories  in  His 
blessed  service.  ROSA  MINTLE. 


INDUSTRIAL  REFORM   SCHOOL,    HUTCHINSON,   KAN. 

Leaving  Tabor  December  15,  taking  with  me  Sister  Tay- 
lor, who  for  several  years  has  accompanied  me  at  intervals 
in  my  work,  silently  praying  for  me  while  I  preach,  sing  or 
pray,  I  started  for  San  Francisco,  California,  via  Santa  Fe, 
New  Mexico.  We  stopped  at  Hutchison,  Kansas,  where 
is  located  the  State  Industrial  Reform  School  for  Young 
Men.  We  met  the  wife  of  the  superintendent  of  that  insti- 
tution, who  kindly  took  us  to  the  school.  I  had  held  ser- 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  417 

vice  here  with  prisoners  who  were  working  on  the  build- 
ings when  they  were  being  erected. 

The  officers  arranged  for  a  service  in  the  chapel  though 
it  was  a  week  day  and  just  before  Christmas.  The  meet- 
ing was  owned  and  blessed  of  the  Lord.  Also  at  Santa  Fe 
we  were  kindly  entertained  by  the  wife  of  the  superintend- 
ent of  the  prison,  and  the  officers  gave  us  a  service  in  the 
chapel  and  the  prisoners,  both  men  and  women,  privilege  to 
attend.  About  half  the  prisoners  being  Mexicans  I  had  to 
speak  to  them  by  the  aid  of  an  interpreter.  This  service  was 
also  signally  owned  of  the  Lord.  We  also  held  special  ser- 
vice with  the  women. 

We  then  left  for  the  coast  and  had  several  services  en 
route  with  the  passengers  and  railroad  men ;  also  with  a 
hundred  soldiers  who  were  going  to  their  winter  quarters. 
I  had  warned  the  soldiers  about  drinking.  It  seemed  so 
sad  to  see  them  drinking  and  gambling.  Poor  boys,  there 
seems  to  be  no  way  of  restraining  them  from  strong  drink 
so  long  as  they  can  get  it.  Some  trouble  arose  between 
them  and  other  parties  and  one  of  the  soldiers  was  badly  cut 
in  the  throat.  In  a  town  in  California  I  held  services  in  a 
number  of  saloons  and  dance  halls.  It  was  Christmas  day 
and  I  never  saw  more  drinking  among  the  people  and  I 
never  want  to  witness  such  again.  Why  will  people  indulge 
in  strong  drink,  when  God  has  said  no  drunkard  shall  in- 
herit the  kingdom  of  heaven  ? 

We  arrived  in  San  Francisco  and  found  many  open  doors 
to  preach  the  Gospel.  I  visited  the  State  Prison  at  San 
Quentin.  The  chaplain  was  very  kind,  giving  me  privileges 
of  the  chapel  services  and  a  special  service  with  the  women. 
This  prison  was  first  opened  to  me  in  1898  in  direct  answer 
to  prayer.  I  also  held  services  in  the  city  prisons. 


4i8 


PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 


We  also  visited  the  Federal  Prison  on  Alcatraz  Island, 
where  we  held  three  services  with  the  manifest  blessing  of 
God  upon  our  souls.  The  kindness  of  the  officers  and  the 
appreciation  shown  by  the  prisoners  there  will  not  be  for- 
gotten. I  am  sure  God  will  reward  those  who  are  kind  to 
His  children,  and  who  assist  His  workers  in  any  way. 

During  the  first  four  months  of  1905  we  found  much  to 
do  for  the  Lord  in  Los  Angeles,  San  Pedro  and  other 
places  in  California,  one  of  these  of  special  importance  was 
the  Reformatory  at  Whittier. 


INDUSTRIAL    SCHOOL,    WHITTIER,    CAL. 

Early  in  May,  having  received  a  letter  from  one  of  the 
boys  in  Colorado  under  sentence  of  death,  I  hastened  to 
that  state  to  see  the  new  governor  in  their  behalf.  I  was 
kindly  received  and  heard  by  the  governor,  but  as  the 
Board  of  Pardons  was  to  soon  meet  he  declined  to  make 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  4IQ 

any  promises.  Tarrying  several  days  for  the  board  to  meet, 
I  met  with  them  and  made  a  plea  for  the  lives  of  the  boys 
who  had,  under  the  influence  of  drink,  accidentally,  as  they 
claimed,  taken  life. 

They  received  a  reprieve  for  four  weeks,  but  the  two 
who  were  adjudged  sane  were  executed  June  16.  I  give 
elsewhere  an  extract  from  a  letter  received  from  the 
mother  of  one  of  these  boys  shortly  afterward.  Also  an 
extract  from  a  paper  concerning  the  mother  of  the  other. 

After  returning  to  Iowa  and  remaining  but  a  few  days, 
accompanied  by  a  young  sister  from  the  Home,  I  returned  to 
Colorado,  visiting,  en  route,  the  jail  at  Council  Bluffs, 
Iowa,  and  the  State  Prison  at  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  where 
we  held  service  on  the  Lord's  day.  We  then  proceeded  to 
Canon  City  to  visit  the  condemned  boys,  and  held  services 
in  the  corridors  of  the  prison  till  late  at  night.  We  next 
went  to  Buena  Vista,  where  we  held  service  in  the  State 
Reform  School  for  Boys,  and  in  the  jail.  On  our  return 
east  we  stopped  at  a  camp  meeting  at  Newton,  Kansas, 
where  the  Lord  blessed  in  the  jail  and  in  the  work  on  the 
street.  Going  next  to  Chicago  we  held  service  in  the 
county  jail  with  about  four  hundred  men.  We  next  visited 
the  prison  at  Joliet,  Illinois,  but  only  had  service  in  the 
prison  hospital  and  proceeded  to  Sioux  Falls,  South  Da- 
kota, for  services  on  the  Lord's  day ;  then  returned  to  Ta- 
bor, stopping  in  Omaha  and  holding  a  service  in  the  county 
jail. 

Taking  with  me  the  young  sister  whom  I  have  elsewhere 
mentioned  as  having  first  known  as  an  orphan  girl,  now 
starting  for  India,  I  spent  a  day  at  Plattsmouth,  Nebraska, 
where  we  talked  and  sang  in  a  tent  meeting,  on  the  street, 
and  in  the  jail.  The  time  set  for  the  missionary  band  to  sail 


42O  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

being  near,  we  hurried  westward,  stopping  at  but  a  few 
places  till  we  reached  Sacramento,  where  we  had  work  to 
do  for  souls  in  the  prison  and  other  places.  We  next  vis- 
ited the  prison  at  Salem,  Oregon,  and  also  made  a  short 
stay  at  Portland.  Upon  reaching  Tacoma  we  learned  that 
the  time  of  sailing  had  been  put  off  a  week,  so  we  improved 
the  time  seeking  out  the  lost  in  mission  work,  etc. 

The  company  of  nine  missionaries,  including  one  child, 
boarded  the  steamship  "Minnesota,"  and  by  the  kindness 
of  the  general  superintendent  of  the  company  we  were  per- 
mitted to  spend  a  night  before  sailing  on  board  the  vessel 
with  them,  which  was  a  time  very  much  enjoyed  in  the 
Lord.  The  parting  was  not  one  of  sadness,  but  of  sweet 
peace  and  calmness.  As  we  looked  into  the  faces  of  the 
dear  ones  as  they  were  being  borne  away  we  rejoiced  that 
God  has  a  few  whom  He  can  trust  to  carry  the  precious 
Gospel  to  the  heathen.  As  the  vessel  bearing  its  precious 
burden  sailed  from  our  view,  the  little  company  of  anxious 
watchers  kneeled  down  and  committed  the  dear  ones  to 
Him  who  has  said  that  His  children  are  as  dear  to  Him 
as  the  apple  of  His  eye.  We  were  afterward  delighted  to 
hear  that  they  had  a  most  delightful  voyage,  reaching  Yo- 
kohama, Japan,  in  eighteen  days,  just  in  time  to  escape  a 
very  disastrous  storm  on  the  sea. 

As  a  sister  had  accompanied  some  of  the  missionaries  to 
the  coast  and  was  to  return  with  me,  assisting  me  in  the 
work,  we  turned  our  attention  to  the  needs  of  the  lost  ones 
about  us.  I  will  let  this  sister  here  give  a  brief  sketch  of 
our  return  trip,  on  which  we  trust  much  good  was  done 
for  souls: 

RETURN   FROM   PACIFIC  COAST. 

Mother  Wheaton's  companion  to  the  coast,  Sister  Yar- 


OR    A    LAHOR    OF    LOVK  421 

rett,  having  sailed  for  India,  it  was  my  privilege  to  accom- 
pany her  from  Seattle  to  Iowa.  From  the  wharf,  when  we 
had  committed  the  company  of  dear  missionaries  to  the 
Lord,  we  went  to  the  rooms  of  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  and  held 
religious  service  while  the  young  ladies  had  lunch.  About 
two  hundred  young  women  lunch  in  these  rooms  daily.  At 
night  Mother  Wheaton  spoke  at  the  Life  Boat  Mission 
with  the  anointing  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  many  hearts 
seemed  touched. 

Early  the  next  morning  we  left  Seattle  on  board  the 
S.  S.  Whatcom,  en  route  to  Victoria,  British  Columbia. 
This  was  a  most  enjoyable  trip  to  me.  At  Victoria  we  had 
a  very  profitable  service  in  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  Rescue  Home, 
and  -the  Lord  especially  blessed  the  visit  and  service.  Later 
we  spent  five  days  very  profitably  in  Portland  laboring  in 
the  Exposition  Camp  Meeting,  visiting  the  jails,  saloons 
and  slums,  preaching  and  singing  the  Gospel. 

We  next  went  to  Boise,  Idaho,  where  we  held  services  in 
the  Soldiers'  Home  and  in  the  State  Prison.  Service  with 
the  women  prisoners  and  prayer  with  the  men  under  death 
sentence  were  special  features  of  our  visit  to  this  place. 
We  next  spent  a  day  in  Rawlins,  Wyoming,  visiting  the 
state  and  county  prisons,  holding  short  but  profitable  ser- 
vices in  each.  In  the  county  jail  here  a  raving  maniac  was 
quieted  by  Mother  Wheaton's  singing. 

Another  night  and  day's  travel  across  the  plains  and 
beautiful  country  and  we  were  in,  Omaha,  Nebraska.  Here 
we  spent  several  days,  being  entertained  in  the  Tinley  Res- 
cue Home.  This  indeed  is  a  refuge  for  the  fallen.  Our 
time  here  was  well  occupied  in  the  jails,  missions  and 
churches.  Then  we  hurried  on  to  Tabor.  I  to  resume  du- 
ties in  the  school  room,  and  Mother  Wheaton,  after  a  few 


42.2  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

days'  rest,  to  continue  her  pilgrimage  seeking  the  wander- 
ing and  the  lost  ones  of  earth  till  she  shall  be  called  from 

toil  to  her  reward  which  shall  surely  be  one  worth  gaining. 

EMMA   H.   HERR. 

ANOTHER    TRIP. 

After  attending  Prison  Congress  at  Lincoln,  Neb.,  Oct. 
21  to  26,  I  left  for  western  prisons  and  other  institutions. 
Held  services  at  Old  Soldiers'  Home,  Grand  Island,  Ne- 
braska, the  27th,  then  went  to  Rawlings,  Wyoming;  held 
services  on  Sunday  at  the  prison  chapel  with  all  the  pris- 
oners,' then  at  the  county  jail.  Had  great  liberty  in  both 
prisons.  Left  at  night  for  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  Found 
open  doors.  Held  services  at  state  prison  jail  on  Monday 
afternoon;  also  in  the  county  jail,  two  services.  Left  that 
night  for  Ogden ;  held  services  in  the  county  jail  and  at 
Crittendon  Rescue  Home.  Left  for  Deer  Lodge,  Montana, 
where  I  was  kindly  received  by  the  warden,  Frank  Conley, 
who  has  ever  proved  one  of  the  best  of  friends  to  me  in 
my  work  in  prison — always  arranging  for  services  Sunday 
or  week  day  and  entertaining  myself  and  any  one  I  brought 
with  me,  and  never  letting  me  go  away  without  something 
to  help  defray  expenses  along  the  way.  Sunday  afternoon 
at  Butte  City  held  two  services  at  the  county  jail ;  took  train 
at  night  for  Walla  Walla,  Washington  and  arrived  there  at 
3  130  a.  m.,  and  went  to  Chaplain  Lacornu's  home.  After 
resting,  prayer  and  breakfast,  we  went  to  the  state  prison, 
where  I  held  services  with  the  twelve  women  prisoners ; 
then  in  the  dining  room,  held  services  with  the  men — 
about  eight  hundred  prisoners.  The  Lord  was  present  in 
both  services  to  own  and  bless  and  many  were  helped  to  a 
better  life  and  higher  aims.  Left  there  for  county  jail 
where  we  had  profitable  service  with  men  and  women. 

Left  that  night  for  Portland,  Oregon.     Was  kindly  en- 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  423 

tertained  by  one  who  has  been  preaching  the  gospel  for 
nearly  twenty  years,  who  was  convicted  in  prison  while  I 
was  preaching  in  the  prison  in  Bismark,  N.  D.,  one  night 
after  nine  o'clock.  He  was  converted  and  has  done  great 
good  in  the  work,  both  in  prison  and  outside  ever  since. 
Much  of  his  success  is  due  to  his  faithful  Christian  wife, 
who  has  ever  been  his  true  friend  and  helpmeet. 

Called  on  Mrs.  Smith,  a  prison  missionary,  who  for  years 
has  done  mission  work  in  Salem  and  Walla  Walla  prisons. 
Then  left  for  Salem,  Oregon,  where  I  held  services  with 
the  prisoners  in  the  jail  on  the  Sabbath  day,  also  with  the 
women  prisoners  on  Saturday  afternoon.  Was  kindly  re- 
ceived by  the  Superintendent  of  the  prison  and  his  family, 
also  by  the  Bible  school  in  charge  of  Brother  and  Sister 
Ryan,  where  I  held  services  on  Sunday  night  in  the  chapel 
with  students  and  citizens.  Left  Monday  morning  for  the 
South.  Stopped  in  Sacramento,  and  went  to  the  Rescue 
Home  and  held  services  for  the  girls  while  I  waited  for 
the  train  to  Carson  City,  Nevada.  Changed  cars  at  Reno 
and  waiting  for  neither  rest  or  food  hurried  on  to  Carson 
City  to  see  the  Governor  and  the  Attorney  General  about 
prison  work.  Found  four  men  under  sentence  of  death.  I 
pleaded  with  the  Governor  for  a  commutation  of  sentence. 
Governor  Sparks  asked  me  if  I  could  meet  with  the  Board 
of  Pardons  and  himself  at  2  p.  m.,  and  gave  me  a  letter  to 
the  warden  to  allow  me  to  see  the  condemned  men  and  hold 
services  with  them — also  with  all  of  the  prisoners.  The 
Governor  also  arranged  for  me  to  go  to  the  prison  with  one 
of  the  officers.  Found  the  poor  men  heart  broken  over 
their  condition,  and  really  sorry  for  their  sin.  They  had 
all  been  drinking,  and  among  the  four  of  them  they  had 
killed  a  young  man,  and  all  were  doomed  to  die. 


42-«.  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

When  I  entered  their  prison  with  the  death-watch  I  was 
overcome  with  sorrow  for  the  poor  unfortunates  who  so 
soon  would  be  in  eternity,  and  as  I  came  in  the  door  one 
of  the  prisoners  said,  "O,  it  is  Mother  Wheaton."  As  I 
clasped  his  hand  he  said,  "Mother,  I  knew  you  twenty 
years  ago."  I  said,  "Where?"  and  he  said,  "In  San  Fran- 
cisco." Reader,  you  may  try  to  sympathize  or  criticize  at 
such  a  time,  with  them  and  me,  but  you  never  will  know 
what  the  suffering  is  until  you  have  passed  through  this 
ordeal  of  just  standing  alone  with  the  good  Lord  and  the 
condemned,  so  soon  to  die  that  horrible  death.  You  can- 
not picture  it,  for  death  is  awful  to  those  not  prepared  to 
die — filled  with  remorse  of  conscience  and  sorrow  for  the 
deed  done  while  under  the  influence  of  whiskey  and  pos- 
sessed with  the  devil,  which  the  strong  drink  causes — and 
then  to  have  no  hope  in  this  world  or  the  world  to  come, 
and  alone  with  their  conscience,  the  death-watch,  myself 
and  our  God 

I  knelt  in  prayer.  First  to  ask  wisdom  of  the  blessed 
Christ  who  never  turned  anyone  away,  and  then,  taking 
each  one  by  the  hand  through  the  iron  bars,  I  was  lost  to 
this  world  and  its  opinions  and  criticisms.  I  entered  into 
their  heart-sorrow,  and  at  once  took  hold  on  God  for  the 
salvation  of  their  immortal  souls.  Quietly,  but  with  strong 
faith -in  God  and  the  atoning  blood  of  Jesus  our  Saviour, 
I  believed  for  their  salvation.  Human  sympathy  will  not 
avail.  It  is  the  suffering  and  death  of  Christ  which  avails 
in  the  face  of  death.  And  I  believe,  if  Jacob  prevailed 
in  prayer  as  a  prince,  it  is  our  privilege  to  believe  God 
hears  and  answers  prayer  and  saves  to  the  uttermost  the 
vilest  sinner  who  truly  repents  of  his  sins,  and  claims  His 
promises.  "Though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be 


Ok    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  425 

as  white  as  snow ;  though  they  be  red  like  crimson,  they 
shall  be  as  wool."  Isa.  i  :i8. 

We  wept  and  prayed  together,  and  while  I  sang  the  good 
old  hymns  our  mothers  knew  and  loved  and  sung  for  us  in 
childhood,  we  took  hold  on  God  by  faith  for  their  souls' 
salvation,  and  I  believe  God  heard  and  answered  our  pray- 
ers, that  fifteenth  day  of  November,  1905,  in  that  prison, 
and  that  those  men  that  day  were  forgiven  their  sins.  I 
know  God's  Word  is  sure,  and  I  depend  daily  on  the  Bible 
and  its  holy  teachings,  and  accept  His  promise,  and  re- 
ceive the  answer  from  God  that  His  pardon  is  sure. 

I  told  the  men  I  had  no  hope  for  their  lives  to  be  spared 
— that  the  Governor  had  not  given  me  any  encouragement 
for  them,  but  had  invited  me  to  meet  with  him  and  the 
Board  of  Pardons  at  2  p.  m.,  and  see  what  they  would  do 
in  the  case.  I  pleaded  with  them  to  let  go  all  hope  of  a  life 
sentence,  and  prepare  to  die,  for  there  was  only  one  more 
day  for  them  to  live — that  I  had  nothing  to  give  them  of 
hope,  only  in  the  precious  blood  of  Jesus — that  their  days 
were  numbered. 

O,  the  human  heart  is  susceptible  to  suffering,  and  my 
suffering  was  intense  for  them.  I  was  weak  and  weary, 
having  traveled  two  days  and  two  nights  without  rest. 
Yet  I  could  not  rest  when  there  was  so  much  at  stake  for 
them.  I  abandoned  myself  to  the  Holy  Ghost  to  guide  me 
in  the  service,  and  then  as  I  took  each  hand,  so  soon  to  be 
cold  in  death,  I  knew  only  God  could  save  them.  I  shall 
not  forget  the  parting  with  those  poor,  unfortunate  men, 
all  in  the  prime  of  life  and  strength  of  manhood.  I  will 
meet  them  again  soon  in  the  presence  of  God. 

I  was  so  weak  in  body  that  the  officer  kindly  assisted  me 
to  the  main  prison,  where  I  was  to  hold  services  with  all  of 


426  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

the  prisoners.  It  was  high  noon,  and  the  warden  and  of- 
ficers urged  me  to  take  refreshments.  I  said,  "No,  I  am 
soon  going  to  the  judgment,  and  I  want  to  go  with  a  clear 
conscience.  How  could  I  eat,  when  all  these  prisoners 
need  the  gospel  so  much?"  And  they  kindly  gave  me  the 
privilege  of  an  hour's  service.  Then,  after  a  hurried  lunch, 
which  was  both  breakfast  and  dinner,  the  state  carriage 
was  ready  to  take  me  to  the  Capitol  to  meet  the  Governor 
and  Board  of  Pardons.  But  there  was  no  hope,  the  Board 
refused  to  commute  the  sentence,  and  all  four  were  exe- 
cuted November  17,  for  the  death  of  one  young  man.  Soon 
I  must  stand  together  at  the  judgment  bar  of  God,  with 
those  whose  lives  were  taken,  one  by  the  four  under  the 
influence  of  whiskey,  which  makes  men  and  women  crazy 
and  worse  than  brutes;  licensed  by  the  laws  of  our  land — 
the  others  by  the  men  who,  in  their  right  minds,  as  execu- 
tors of  the  law,  put  to  death  the  helpless  victims  who  had 
truly  repented  of  their  sins  and  promised  to  obey  God  and 
the  rules,  and  live  good  law-abiding  citizens. 

I  want  it  understood  that  I  believe  in  law  and  its  enforce- 
ment. I  sympathize  with  both  the  murdered  and  the  mur- 
derers. I  believe  in  obeying  God  and  His  laws  and  en- 
forcing discipline,  and  I  assist  the  officers  of  the  state  to 
maintain  law  and  order,  but  I  say,  give  deliverance  from 
the  abominable  saloon  and  all  the  evil  that  follows  in  its 
wake.  Give  us  judges,  jurymen  and  officers,  who,  in  every 
sense  try  to  banish  and  abolish  the  liquor  traffic  and  the 
dens  of  sin,  and  there  will  be  no  need  of  our  state  officers 
having  to  take  life  which  none  can  give. 

Leaving  the  Capitol  after  the  decision  was  made  by  the 
Board  of  Pardons  and  Governor,  I  went  to  the  hotel  to 
tell  the  two  sisters  of  one  of  the  condemned  men  that  all 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  427 

hope  of  their  brother's  life  was  gone,  and  that  they  must 
prepare  to  face  the  awful  sorrow  of  losing  their  brother. 
That  scene  was  O,  so  pitiful !  The  brother  and  these  two 
sisters  were  orphans.  He  was  a  good  boy  and  supported 
the  two  sisters  after  the  parents  had  died,  but  he  had  fallen 
into  bad  company  who  had  led  him  astray.  The  sisters 
were  heart  broken.  It  seemed  as  if  they  could  not  give  up 
that  dear  brother  who  had  done  so  much  for  them.  I 
helped  them  on  the  train,  and  went  with  them  as  far  as 
Reno,  Nevada,  and  we  parted  to  meet  again  after  all  the 
sorrow  and  mistakes  of  our  lives  are  forgotten  and  for- 
given. 

After  leaving  them  I  held  services  for  the  Salvation 
Army  friends  and  on  the  street.  Then  left  that  night, 
though  very  weary,  for  the  east.  After  taking  the  train, 
I  could  see  in  my  mind  those  poor  condemned  men,  wait- 
ing the  few  last  hours  until  the  law  should  have  its  way. 
Eternity  alone  will  reveal  all  hearts  and  lives. 

Arrived  at  Ogden,  I  went  to  the  Crittendon  Home,  then 
on  to  the  State  Industrial  School  for  Boys  and  Young  Men, 
and  had  a  service  in  all  the  cottages.  Was  with  them  two 
evenings.  They  all  seemed  cheered  by  the  old  good  songs 
and  the  services.  Saying  "Good-bye"  to  all  in  their  dining 
room  at  their  daylight  breakfast  hour,  I  left  them  for  the 
east. 

I  stopped  at  Columbus,  Nebraska,  a  day,  and  at  Omaha, 
where  many  railroad  friends  and  others  met  and  greeted 
me  kindly.  Then  hurried  on  to  Joliet,  Illinoif,  State  Prison, 
where  dear  Mrs.  Murphy,  wife  of  the  warden,  gave  me  a 
warm  welcome  to  her  lovely  home  in  the  state  prison.  Went 
with  the  chaplain  to  visit  the  hospital  and  spoke  with  the 
men  at  the  Sabbath  School  hour,  and  then  to  the  women's 


428  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

prison,  where  I  was  given  the  privilege  of  addressing  all 
the  female  prisoners.  Many  were  much  affected,  and  shed 
tears  as  I  spoke  or  sang  to  them  "My  Name  in  Mother's 
Prayer,"  "Is  There  Anyone  Can  Help  Us"  and  "Old  Time 
Religion."  Shook  hands  with  most  of  the  women,  prayed 
and  sang  for  a  sick  girl  in  the  prison  hospital,  and  left  for 
the  jail.  Spoke  there,  then  on  to  Chicago.  After  some 
days  in  the  city,  busy  for  the  Lord,  I  made  a  trip  to  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  and  returned  before  the  close  of  the  year, 
and  proceeded  to  the  Pacific  coast  early  in  the  new  year. 

O,  how  I  praise  the  Lord  for  His  grace  and  love,  and 
the  strength  and  endurance  He  gives  me  to  keep  going  to 
carry  His  messages  of  love  and  good  cheer  to  the  lost  ones 
in  low  and  in  high  pursuits  of  life. 

Dear  Reader:  We  must  here  close  the  account  of  our 
travel  and  toil  in  the  Master's  vineyard,  and  we  feel  that  it 
will  all  soon  be  over,  and  the  victory  be  won.  When  I  shall 
have  finished  my  course  I  want  to  be  able  to  say,  like  Paul 
of  old,  that  "I  have  fought  a  good  fight."  I  want,  too,  to 
know  that  the  crown  is  laid  up  for  me  as  one  of  those  who 
have  been  faithful  and  that  love  the  appearing  of  my  Sa- 
vior. 

Though  but  sixty-one  years  of  age,  the  excessive  toil, 
the  wearisome  journeys,  the  heart-rending  scenes  and  ex- 
periences for  more  than  one-third  of  my  life,  have  told  upon 
my  once  strong  body  until  I  am  now  a  physical  wreck. 
Only  in  the  strength  of  Jehovah  and  leaning  upon  His  ever- 
lasting arm  arrul  able  to  pursue  the  calling  He  has  given 
me.  "But  the  toils  of  the  road  will  seem  nothing  when  we 
get  to  the  end  of  the  way."  You  and  I  shall  meet  again, 
on  that  great  Judgment  morning,  and  must  give  an  account 
to  God  "Grace  be  with  all  them  that  love  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  in  sincerity." 


'•  .   ,  f  o,  .": 

-       ;:        '         "    /•  v  •  -         ;    -       . 


PRISONS     AT     JACKSON,     MICH.,     DEER     LODGE,     MONTV     AND 
FOLSOM,   CAL. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
Letters  from  Prisoners. 

The  extracts  from  letters  found  in  this  chapter  are  gath- 
ered from  my  correspondence  with  those  within  prison  walls 
who  have  been  encouraged  by  the  way  and  have  received 
help ;  many  of  them  having  borne  testimony  to  a  clear  con- 
version and  a  life  of  service  for  the  Lord,  even  within  prison 
walls.  These  will  serve  to  show  their  appreciation  of  any 
effort  made  in  their  behalf.  They  have  been  a  source  of 
great  encouragement  to  me  in  my  work. 

I  should  like  to  give  more  of  similar  character,  and  all 
more  in  detail,  would  space  permit,  but  let  these  suffice 
as  examples  of  the  thousands  of  letters  I  have  received 
during  these  twenty  years  from  my  "children."  The 
names  and  that  which  might  identify  the  individuals,  I  have 
omitted ;  for  many  of  them  are  now  good  citizens  and  some 
are  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  I  have  omitted  many 
references  to  the  instrumentality  which  God  has  seen  fit  to 
use  in  carrying  His  message  of  love  to  these  souls,  giving 
only  what  others  thought  were  needed  to  show  the  writers' 
appreciation  and  gratitude.  I  have  ever  dealt  with  these, 
when  present  and  by  correspondence,  as  souls  whom  I  must 
meet  at  the  Judgment.  The  honor  and  praise  for  what  good 
may  have  been  accomplished  belongs  to  Him  whom  I  serve, 
and  who  has  given  me  the  commission,  "Go  and  preach  the 
Gospel." 

Inman,  Tenn. 
Dear  Sister  in  the  Lord : 

We  write  you  a  few  lines  praying  that  God  will  allow 
you  to  call  again  and  preach  for  us,  for  we  believe  that  the 


432  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Spirit  of  God  is  with  you.  We  need  thy  aid  here.  So,  our 
dear  sister  in  the  Lord,  we  do  wish  to  hear  you  once  more, 
so  will  come  much  good  in  the  name  of  the  living  God ! 

THE  PRISONERS. 


Boise  City  Penitentiary,  July  29,   1890. 
Elizabeth  Wheaton,  Portland,  Oregon. 

Dear  Madam :  I  am  instructed  to  thank  you  in  behalf 
of  all  of  us  for  your  kind  visit.  We  fully  appreciate  your 
labor,  your  courage,  and  integrity ;  your  singleness  of  heart 
and  purpose,  your  purity  of  motives ;  but  above  all  do  we 
appreciate  your  sincerity.  Your  indefatigable  efforts,  even 
in  your  old  age,  to  reach  the  criminal,  to  lead  him  upward 
and  onward  to  his  true  destiny  under  so  many  disad- 
vantages, without  money  and  without  price,  without  the 
support  of  state  or  church,  and,  I  may  add,  without  the 
support  of  public  sentiment  which  appears  to  be  against  you 
and  us — all  this,  I  say,  inspires  us  with  faith  and  confidence 
in  you.  And  when  I  am  paying  you  this  tribute,  I  am  at 
the  same  time  aware  that  I  am  paying  it  to  Him  who  came 
on  earth  to  seek  and  save  us,  for  without  Him  you  would 
not  love  us  as  you  do. 

Come  again,  say  we  all. 

PRISONERS. 


Lancaster,  Nebr.,  Oct.  25,   1903. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton, 

Dear  Mother:  We,  the  undersigned,  as  a  token  of  our 
appreciation  of  your  efforts  in  our  behalf,  respectfully  re- 
quest that  you  accept  our  assurance  of  appreciation  of  to- 
day's services,  and  especially  the  song  service  held  in  our 
cell-house,  and  best  wishes  for  your  future  success. 

Signed  by  199  prisoners,  each  giving  his  number. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  433 

Bushy  Mountain  State  Prison, 
Petros,  Tenn.,  May  4,  1896. 

Dear  Mother  Wheaton :  We,  the  undersigned,  unfortu- 
nate children,  assemble  together  to  try  to  show  you  how 
grateful  we  are  for  the  devout  interest  you  are.  taking  in 
the  welfare  of  our  souls.  We  hope  and  trust  that  the  Lord 
will  continue  to  be  with  you  all  along  your  journey,  trust- 
ing that  if  we  don't  meet  again  on  earth,  that  we  may  meet 
in  Heaven. 

Pray  for  us. 

We  enclose  the  following  sums  for  each  of  us : 

W.  J 25  cents 

W.  S io-  cents 

C.  R.  R.  .  .10  cents 


Walla  Walla,  July  11,  1889. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton, 

Dear  Friend:  Your  postal  received.  You  have  the  ap- 
preciation and  kind  thoughts  of  many  here  for  your  kind 
remembrance  of  us  all  in  our  secluded  prison  home.  Aside 
from  your  own  particular  means  and  the  many  other  ways 
adopted  by  religious  people  to  draw  the  attention  of  the  in- 
different to  the  subject  of  their  spiritual  welfare,  the  evident 
disinterested  motive  which  characterizes  your  extended  la- 
bors, is  of  itself  sufficient,  to  highly  recommend  your  kind 
endeavors  to  all  fair-minded  people,  and  to  give  you  a 
hearty  welcome,  from  prisoners  especially,  wherever  you 
may  find  them. 

We  would  all,  therefore,  send  you  a  kind  word  of  en- 
couragement and  Godspeed  in  your  good  work  and  labor  of 
love,  believing  that  your  gospel  message  is  fully  adapted 
to  meet  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  whole  human  family 
under  whatever  condition  found. 

PRISONERS  OF  WALLA  WALLA  PENITENTIARY,  Per  F.  S. 


434  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

Richmond,  Va.,  August  23,  1885. 

Dear  Madam:  I  take  much  pleasure  to  introduce  myself 
to  you,  and  stating  to  you  how  I  first  found  rest  for  my 
sinful  soul.  I  am  a  stranger  to  you  by  name,  but  not  by  the 
love  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  I  was  highly  delighted  to  hear 
you  speak  to  us.  It  lifted  up  my  downhearted  feeling  and 
caused  me  to  look  around  myself,  and  I  do  truly  hope  that 
those  words  that  you  have  spoken  may  be  as  seed  sowed  in 
good  ground,  and  take  root  and  the  future  may  tell.  And 
for  myself,  when  I  first  came  to  this  place  I  was  a  vile 
sinner  and  thanks  be  to  the  good  Lord  that  I  have  my  soul 
awakened  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  if  it  had  not  been  for  this 
place  I  think  that  I  would  have  been  a  sinner  until  now, 
but  now  all  my  trust  is  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  Him 
alone.  Although  I  have  many  crosses  and  trials  and  tempta- 
tions, my  trust  is  in  the  Lord,  and  I  truly  pray  and  trust  the 
Lord  that  after  awhile  we  shall  all  meet  in  heaven  where 
there  will  be  no  more  parting. 

I  trust  you  will  be  successful  in  this  work  of  the  Lord. 
I  desire  your  prayers. 

I  am  your  humble  servant,  H.  T. 


Massachusetts  State  Prison,  October  25,  1885. 

Dear  Madam :  It  is  writh  much  pleasure  that  I  listened 
to  your  address  to-day.  Please  accept  my  thanks  for  the 
interest  which  you  take  in  the  poor  unfortunate  prisoners. 
There  are  many  skeptic  ones  among  us  because  we  see  so 
much  hypocrisy.  May  God  bless  you,  and  let  me  inform 
you  that  your  motherly-like  appearance  sank  deep  into  the 
hearts  of  many. 

Our  chaplain  tries  to  do  all  the  good  he  can,  but  no  one 
knows  what  a  prisoner's  life  is  but  a  prisoner. 

My  poor  mother  used  to  pray  like  you.     I  will  not  forget 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  435 

your  earnest  advice.  I  wish  there  were  more  like  you,  for 
then  there  would  be  a  true  reform  in  prisons.  These  places 
ruin  young  men.  O  it  is  not  understood  by  those  men  who 
govern  us  even.  Some  of  the  officers  are  not  fit  to  be  over 
young  men.  Every  officer  should  be  a  religious  man,  but 
we  have  few  in  accordance  with  the  text:  "Love  your 
neighbor  as  yourself."  Many  of  them  take  God's  name  in 
vain. 

I  shall  try  to  think  much  upon  what  you  said,  with  God's 
help.  Please  pray  for  an  unfortunate  one.  May  God  bless 
you.  J.  J. 


New  York,  Nov.  26,  1885. 

My  Dear  Friend :  Your  postal  reached  me  this  morning 
and  I  can  assure  you  it  gave  me  pleasure  to  hear  from  you 
and  see  you  had  not  forgotten  Ludlow  Street  Jail.  To- 
day is  Thanksgiving  Day,  and  to  us  poor  unfortunates  I  can 
assure  you  it  is  a  gloomy  one,  but  we  must  give  thanks  to 
our  Heavenly  Father  that  we  are  not  in  a  worse  place  than 
this.  I  for  one  do  pray  to  Him  and  thank  Him  for  His 
kindness  and  pray  to  Him  to  give  us  strength  of  mind  to 
resist  all  temptations. 

I  cannot  remember  who  you  enquire  about.  I  am  the 
small  man  who  introduced  you  to  my  wife  and  sister  the 
first  time  you  called. 

We  were  treated  today  by  cur  kind  warden  to  a  good 
Thanksgiving  dinner  and  I  pray  before  another  Thanksgiv- 
ing Day  that  I  may  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  under 
more  favorable  circumstances.  May  God  be  with  you  in 
your  good  work  is  the  prayer  of, 

Sincerely  yours,  I.  L., 

Ludlow  Street  Jail,  New  York  City. 


43^  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Cell  No.  35— Tombs, 
New  York  City,  Sunday,  Nov.  I,  1885. 

Dear  Sister  Wheaton :  Forgive  me  for  calling  you  so  as 
I  cannot  rightly  call  you  otherwise.  Your  prayer  "today 
came  from  your  very  soul.  I  felt  it  deeply.  It  has  entered 
into  mine.  I  feel  a  new  man.  You  were  a  Godsend  to 
me.  Your  words  have  given  new  life,  they  have  inspired 
me  to  live  in  the  future  a  leal  Christian.  I  feel  so  light  of 
heart  since  you  were  here,  that  I  cannot  find  words  ade- 
quate to  properly  express  myself.  I  pray  your  good  work 
may  be  crowned  with  success.  I  feel  now  that  I  am  again 
a  child  of  God.  I  shall  pray  and  try  to  live  as  Jesus  de- 
sires. I  pray  to  Him  that  Ke  will  give  me  all  encourage- 
ment to  lead  a  Christian  life  and  do  His  will  only.  O !  how 
I  have  learned  to  love  Jesus  through  your  inspiring  words 
of  comfort  and  goodness. 

I  shall  daily  pray  for  your  health  and  prosperity  in  Jesus. 
Do  likewise  for  me,  and  may  we  meet  in  Heaven.  To  this 
end  I  shall  ever  pray  and  so  sign  myself, 

A  brother  in  Jesus,  J.  M.  S. 


New  York,  November  10,  1885. 

Dear  Sister  Wheaton:  Many  thanks  for  your  kind  visit 
today  and  for  the  memorandum  book  and  envelopes  you 
brought  me. 

I  herewith  reiterate  every  word  and  the  combined  mean- 
ing contained  in  my  letter  to  you  of  last  Sabbath.  You 
were  a  Godsend  to  me  from  heaven.  Formerly  it  was  a 
hard  task  for  me  to  stop  to  think  as  I  do  now.  Now  I  can 
pray  so  easy,  and  it  seems  to  do  me  so  much  good.  Such  a 
blessing  I  have  never  experienced  heretofore.  With  pleasure 
I  give  this  evidence  of  the  goodness  of  our  beloved  and  only 
Jesus.  Him  I  shall  worship  daily,  aye,  at  all  times  and  in 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  437 

all  places.  I  think  of  nothing  more  grand  and  noble  than 
to  believe  in  our  Redeemer  who  offers  His  salvation  for 
our  souls.  He  is  my  God  and  no  other  will  I  have  but  Him. 
I  love  Him  truly.  In  my  prayers  I  have  vowed  to  devote 
the  rest  of  my  life  for  His  good  cause.  I  sincerely  hope 
that  many,  through  you,  may  come  out  of  darkness  into 
light.  God  grant  you  good  health  to  do  His  good  work  here. 
I  will  pray  for  you  and  ask  you  to  do  likewise  for  me,  and 
others. 

I  pray  to  God  daily  that  He  may  give  -  me  renewed 
strength  to  keep  on  in  the  good  path  which  I  have  chosen, 
and  may  His  spirit  and  love  be  alike  with  you  and  me,  is 
the  wish  of  Your  brother  in  Christ  Jesus. 

J.  M.  S.,  Cell  35,  Tombs,  New  York-City. 


Charleston,  January  4,  1886. 

My  Dear  and  Much  Esteemed  Friend :  As  I  sit  here  in 
the  prison  tonight  I  ponder  upon  the  kind  and  good  advice 
you  gave  me,  and  my  heart  of  hearts  goes  out  to  you  in 
gratitude. 

My  past  life  has  been  a  blank,  in  fact,  an  utter  failure. 
But  since  I  saw  you  I  have  come  to  God  in  all  simplicity 
and  have  asked  Him  to  give  me  a  new  spirit  and  pardon 
my  past  sins;  and  since  I  have  offered  up  this  petition  my 
heart  seems  lighter.  How  often  have  I  cried  out  in  my 
despair,  O  I  am  weary  of  the  conflicts  and  strife  of  this  life ! 
weary  with  the  constant  struggle  for  a  higher  and  better 
life!  And  when  I  see  the  lives  of  yourself  and  others — so 
Christlike,  and  hear  you  say  mid  darkest  shadows:  "Not 
my  will,  but  thine  be  done,"  then  I  think  of  the  rebellion  in 
my  heart  and  so  oft  find  when  I  feel  the  path  I  am  treading 
leaves  the  sunshine  all  behind 


438  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

As  the  way  looks  dark  before  me  and  the  end  I  cannot  see, 
Oft  1  long  to  drop  the  burdens  and  from  sorrow  be  set  free, 

But  I  know  such  thoughts  are  sinful;  God  knows  best  the  way 
That  will  lead  from  earth's  dark  shadows  to  the  brighter  realms 
of  day. 

Words  cannot  express  the  comfort  I  have  received  since 
I  saw  you.  I  have  prayed  to  God  to  help  me  every  night 
and  morning  since  and  as  I  sit  and  ponder  upon  the  past 
and  think  of  the  wasted  hours  that  have  drifted  by,  it  puts 
me  in  mind  of  a  song  I  learned  when  I  was  a  child.  I  will 
only  write  you  a  couple  of  verses  to  let  you  see  how  true 

they  are. 

"Oh,  the  wasted  hours  of  life  that  have  drifted  by; 
Oh,  the  good  we  might  have  done,  lost  without  a  sigh; 
Love  that  we  might  have  sowed  by  a  single  word, 
Thoughts   conceived   but  never  penned,   perished   all   unheard. 
Take  the  proverb  to  thy  heart,  take  and  hold  it  fast — 
The  mill  will  never  grind  with  the  water  that  is  past. 

' '  Oh,  love  thy  God  and  fellow  men,  thyself  consider  last, 

For  come  it  will  when  thou  must  count  dark  errors  of  the  past, 

And  when  the  fight  of  life  is  o'er,  and  life  recedes  from  view, 

And  heaven  in  all  its  glory  shines  midst  the  pure  and  good  and  true, 

Then  you  will  see  more  clearly  the  proverb  deep  and  vast — 

The  mill  will  never  grind  with  water  that  is  past. ' '  j 

May  God  bless  you  for  what  you  have  done  for  me.  You 
have  saved  me  from  that  downward  road  to  ruin.  May 
God  bless  you  and  permit  you  to  return  to  us  once  more. 

W.,  Charleston  State  Prison. 


Nobesville,  Neb.,  April  17,  1886. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton, 

Kind  Lady:  I  will,  according  to  promise,  drop  you  a 
few  lines.  I  am  some  better  now  than  when  you  were  here 
to  see  me.  How  glad  I  am  that  I  met  you  last  Sunday! 
I  have  felt  better  ever  since,  and  I  do  believe  that  the  good 
Father  will  answer  your  prayers.  Don't  fail  to  pray  for 
me,  that,  if  it  is  God's  will,  He  will  heal  me,  for  God  has 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE 


439 


got  the  same  power  that  He  had  when  He  raised  Christ 
from  the  tomb.  And  pray  that  He  will  give  me  the  guid- 
ance of  His  loving  Holy  Spirit  to  lead  me  into  all  truth 
and  at  the  last  take  me  to  Heaven. 

There  has  not  a  day  passed  since  you  were  here  that  I 
have  not  thought  of  you  and  prayed  for  you.  You  did 
more  good  here  than  you  know. 

My  candle  is  going  out. 

Direct  to  JOHN  W.  C.,  Nobesville,  Nebraska. 

Charlestown,  Mass.,  Jan.  10,  1886. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton, 

To  My  Dear  Sister  in  Christ:  "Whosoever  believeth  in 
Him  shall  not  perish  but  have  everlasting  life."  I  believe 
and  trust  in  God.  My  faith  and  my  belief  grow  stronger 
every  day  of  my  life.  I  pray  to  God  to  keep  me  from  evil, 
and  to  make  me  worthy  of  His  kingdom,  that  I  may  meet 
you  there,  for  I  am  a  better  man  for  knowing  you.  God 
bless  you,  my  dear  sister!  My  heart  is  full  of  love  for  my 
God,  and  for  my  fellowman.  I  cannot  find  words  to  ex- 
press my  feelings  or  to  tell  you  how  happy  I  am,  and  how 
precious  Christ  is  to  my  soul.  It  passes  my  understanding. 
But  I  am  satisfied,  for  I  know  that  Christ  has  come  into  my 
heart  to  dwell.  There  are  no  doubts,  no  fears,  everything 
is  well  with  me.  I  thank  God  for  it,  and  I  want  to  see 
every  one  around  me  enjoying  this  great  gift  which  comes 
from  God.  O  how  it  would  have  rejoiced  your  soul  to  have 
been  with  us  the  last  evening  of  the  old  year.  We  had 
a  prayer  meeting.  I  am  told  that  there  were  one  hundred 
and  forty  men  in  the  chapel.  Our  warden  was  the  first  to 
testify.  Many  acknowledged  Christ  to  be  precious  to  their 
souls.  There  are  many  here  that  are  feeling  uncomfortable. 
They  will  be  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  yet,  crying  for  mercy. 


44O  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER1 

Pray  for  them.  Pray  for  us  all.  Only  think  of  it,  one 
hundred  and  forty  prisoners  on  their  knees  and  their  warden 
kneeling  with  them!  O  it  was  a  blessed  sight!  I  never 
heard  Chaplain  Barnes  pray  as  he  did  that  night.  His 
whole  soul  went  out  to  God.  How  he  did  plead  with  God 
for  the  salvation  of  our  souls.  God  bless  the  chaplain.  God 
bless  everyone  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  may  every 
one  see  as  I  see,  and  enjoy  what  I  am  enjoying.  In  His 
paths  there  is  peace,  and  that  in  keeping  of  His  command- 
ments there  is  great  reward. 

There  is  a  young  man  here  by  the  name  of  Charles  B. 
He  has  formed  good  resolutions  with  beginning  of  the  new 
year.  I  tell  him  that  he  cannot  keep  them  without  he  gets 
divine  help.  I  am  praying  for  him.  Please  make  mention 
of  him  in  your  prayers,  and  with  the  help  of  God  we  will 
have  him  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  crying  for  mercy.  We  had 
a  prayer  meeting  last  week  and  I  am  informed  that  we  are 
to  have  them  often.  How  good  it  is  of  the  warden !  God 
bless  him.  He  is  always  looking  for  some  way  to  benefit 
us.  I  praise  the  Lord  for  it. 

I  leave  the  prison  this  year.    I  hope  that  I  may  meet  you 

again  on  earth.    If  not  permitted,  I  will  live  a  life  that  shall 

make  me  worthy  of  the  kingdom  and  meet  you  there.     I 

thank  you  for  the  letter  read  this  day  to  us  by  the  chaplain. 

Your  brother  in  Christ  Jesus,  J.  L.  W. 


Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  May  22,  1887. 
Mrs.  E,  R.  Wheaton, 

My  Dear  Kind  Lady:  In  answer  to  your  request  I  ad- 
dress this  note  to  you  trusting  that  this  may  be  the  com- 
mencement of  life  in  a  different  sphere  to  that  which  I  have 
heretofore  moved  in,  so  do  not  think  that  I  am  flattering 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  441 

if  I  tell  you  the  truth.  I  have  traveled  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific,  from  the  British  Possessions  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  I  have  moved  in  all  classes  of  society  and  have 
been  a  close  observer.  I  have  made  myself  acquainted  with 
all  kinds  of  religious  sects  from  the  Jewish  synagogues  to 
Mormonism,  Protestantism  in  all  its  various  forms,  Catho- 
licism, as  well  as  Spiritualism,  and  I  found  so  much  hypoc- 
risy and  inconsistency  existing  that  I  felt  inclined  to  believe 
Christianity  a  fraud,  but  I  could  see  plainly  that  there  were 
in  every  church  some  few  that  I  could  feel  were  true  Chris- 
tians. I  could  feel  a  secret  convincing  power  almost  irre- 
sistible when  in  their  society,  but  it  always  seemed  strange 
to  me  why  more  true  converts  were  not  made  in  propor- 
tion to  the  great  work  done. 

It  seems  to  me  that  the  handling  of  God's  cause  should 
only  be  entrusted  to  those  that  are  godly — then  the  fruit 
will  bear  witness  to  the  quality  and  health  of  the  tree.  God 
will  prosper  His  own,  but  it  is  not  natural  that  the  Lord 
can  or  will  prosper  one  who  is  half  God's  and  half  Satan's. 
That  is  why  I  have  remained  in  the  world.  I  am  earnest 
in  everything  I  do.  It  is  my  nature,  I  cannot  help  it.  There- 
fore, if  I  ever  become  a  Christian,  bold  and  true  and  faith- 
ful, too,  I'll  be. 

I  must  refer  to  that  now  which  I  spoke  of  in  the  first  of 
this  note.  All  the  convicts  in  this  prison  have  been  moved 
by  your  godly  advice  and  teaching  as  this  prison  has  never 
been  moved  before,  either  by  man  or  woman.  You  won  the 
hearts  of  the  hardest  criminals  and  a  noticeable  change  for 
the  better  has  taken  place.  We  all  pray  God  to  bless  and 
protect  you  wherever  His  wisdom  may  lead  you,  and  even 
though  this  prayer  comes  from  convicts,  perhaps  God  will 
hear  us.  Some  of  us  have  been  convicted  bv  man,  while 


442  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

God,  being  just,  and  our  own  consciences  declare  us  inno- 
cent. Those  of  us  who  are  innocent  and  can  suffer  with 
patience,  what  a  virtue  we  possess.  Such  strength  comes 
only  of  God. 

I  must  close  for  want  of  room.     Please  answer  if  you 
have  time.     We  hope  to  see  you  soon  again. 
Your  humble  servant, 

H.  McL.,  Box  340. 


Tracy  City,  Tenn.,  Dec.  3,  1887. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wheaton, 

Dear  Friend :  Your  visit  to  this  place  was  a  great  bless- 
ing. A  great  many  of  the  men  often  speak  of  you  and  say 
that  by  the  help  of  God  they  are  going  to  live  better  the 
rest  of  their  days. 

I  will  thank  you  for  every  paper  or  good  book  you  may 
send  to  us.  The  way  that  we  do  about  papers  and  books 
is  to  place  them  among  our  fellow  prisoners. 

You  have  our  prayers  and  best  wishes  and  we  hope  you 
will  come  to  our  prison  again,  as  your  work  will  be  remem- 
bered here  for  years  to  come.  May  God  bless  you  all  the 
way  along. 

There  have  been  deaths  here  since  you  were  here.  Neither 
of  those  parties  belonged  to  the  church.  Lots  of  the  men 
spoke  of  the  great  warning  you  gave  before  you  left,  what 
you  said  about  the  last  warning  some  of  them  would  ever 
get,  and  sure  enough  it  was  true. 

Yours  in  Christ,  W.  A.  M. 


Carson  City,  Nev.,  Sept.  23,  1888. 

Dear  Kind  Friend :  Through  the  kindness  of  the  War- 
den, we  received  your  letter,  with  the  song  and  accompany- 
ing texts,  and  I  take  the  liberty  of  answering  it  and  thanking 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  443 

you  for  your  kindness  in  thus  remembering  us.  I  was 
seriously  impressed  by  your  kind  words  of  sympathy  and 
exhortation  when  you  came  to  the  prison  and  I  should  have 
liked  to  have  spoken  to  you,  but  feared  to  trespass  too  much 
on  your  time.  I  am  here  under  a  life  sentence  for  the 
crime  of  murder,  committed  during  a  fit  of  delirium  result- 
ing from  drink.  I  have  been  here  three  years.  Hitherto 
my  life  has  been  anything  but  a  happy  one.  I  was  driven 
from  home  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  after  the  death  of  my 
mother.  Since  then  I  have  associated  with  gamblers  and 
men  of  that  stamp,  and  the  result  of  my  ill-directed  course 
is  my  present  unhappy  condition.  What  I  have  suffered, 
no  one  but  myself  will  ever  know.  I  would  gladly  end  my 
life,  if  my  death  could  blot  out  the  crimes  for  which  I  suffer. 
I  have  one  friend,  who  has  taken  an  interest  in  me,  and  who 
has  written  me  several  kind  letters  and  I  thank  God  for 
letting  me  have  one  kind  and  faithful  friend.  She  is  weak 
in  body,  but  strong  in  mind,  and  a  faithful  servant  of  God. 
She  has  advised  me  to  give  myself  to  God,  and  since  you 
were  here  I  have  resolved  to  try  to  do  so.  Peace  of  mind 
is  what  I  want,  but  fear  I  shall  never  attain  it.  I  hope  to 
hear  from  you  again.  Most  of  my  fellow  prisoners  have 
read  your  letter  and  all  entertain  the  greatest  respect  for 
you.  Some  to  whom  your  kind  words  and  motherly  advice 
have  brought  tender  memories,  desire  to  be  remembered  to 
you. 

You  are  passing  through  ....,.,  where  I  have  lived  and 
where  I  spent  the  happiest  of  my  boyhood  days,  but  they 
are  gone.    I  hope  you  may  meet  some  of  my  old  companions 
and  that  they  may  be  benefited  by  your  kind  words. 
Your  humble,  grateful  servant, 

M. 


444  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Still  water,  Nov.  2,  1888. 

Dear  Sister  Wheaton:  I  was  pleased  beyond  expression 
to  receive  your  letter.  It  came  like  a  benediction.  '  I  shall 
never  forget  you.  The  few  words  spoken  have  left  an 
impress  upon  the  tablets  of  memory  that  time  can  not  efface. 
You  can  tell  the  boys  wherever  you  see  them  in  prison  or 
out  that  Jesus  is  near — -ever  near.  Tell  them  that  I  know 
that  no  locks  ever  were  made  that  can  lock  the  Saviour  out. 
He  came  to  me  when  I  was,  oh,  so  lonely,  so  broken-hearted 
and  despairing!  You  know  just  how  it  was  I  was  saved. 

I  am  innocent  in  the  presence  of  God,  and  still  I  am 
here;  but  never  alone.  Jesus  is  ever  with  me.  Oh,  how 
I  wish  every  one  in  the  wide,  wide  world  could  know  our 
Saviour!  How  true  is  the  fourteenth  chapter  of  John,  and 
especially  the  eighteenth  verse :  "I  will  not  leave  you  com- 
fortless. I  will  come  unto  you."  Never  in  all  my  persecu- 
tion and  imprisonment  has  my  Lord  failed  in  that  promise. 
I  am  very  hopeful.  My  innocence  is  recognized  and  I  hope 
soon  to  be  at  liberty.  Had  any  one  told  me  twelve  months 
ago  that  this  was  all  for  my  good  I  should  have  laughed 
them  to  scorn;  but,  thank  God,  I  know  it  now.  This  life 
is  but  a  few  days  at  most  compared  to  the  home  beyond, 
and  I  can  and  do  say,  "God's  will  be  done."  He  can  do  no 
wrong,  and  right  must  prevail.  God  bless  and  prosper  you 
until  you  go  home.  Yours  in  His  name,  H.  R. 


Stillwater,  Nov.   14,   1888. 

Dear  Mother  Wheaton:  I  received  your  letter  and  it 
came  just  right  to  comfort  me,  for  I  am  in  the  hospital. 
In  prison — not  alone.  In  the  hospital — not  alone.  Jesus 
is  always  with  me.  How  I  love  Jesus  who  died  for  me ! 
My  heart  always  turns  to  Him,  and  when  I  heard  I  had  to 
come  to  the  hospital  I  just  prayed  to  Jesus  and  left  it  all 


• 


!• 

ilk. 
k 


446  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

to  Him,  and  I  am  cheerful  and  happy  and  hopeful  even 
here.     He  is  the  Great  Physician. 

I  can  do  anything  for  Jesus'  sake  but  I  am  in  such  a  queer 
position !  Poor  mother  has  been  nearly  killed  and  heart- 
broken about  this,  and  she  claims  my  presence  for  a  time  at 
least  if  I  get  out.  Poor  mother  is  nearly  worn  out  but  full 
of  faith  and  hope.  May  God  bless  you  and  be  with  you 
forever.  Your  son  and  brother  in  Christ, 

H.  R. 


Little  Rock,  Ark.,  June  10,  1888. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Sister:  I  will  take  the  liberty  and  let  you  and 
Sister  M.  know  who  I  am.  My  name  is  C.  S.  I  guess  you 
remember  the  coal  mines  and  that  evening  when  I  was  sing- 
ing with  Sister  M.  in  her  book.  O  I  wish  I  had  them  songs ! 

I  am  so  happy  in  Christ.  I  am  going  home  to  my  mother 
above.  I  hope  it  will  be  very  soon.  That  song 

"A  Euler  once  came  to  Jesus  by  night 

To  ask  Him  the  way  of  salvation  and  light,*' 

made  me  a  different  man. 

O  the  happy  thoughts  of  a  home  which  Christ  our  Re- 
deemer has  prepared  for  us  and  calls  us  to  come  to  Him. 
"Come  unto  me  all  that  are  weary  and  heavy  laden  and  I 
will  give  you  rest."  O,  such  a  Saviour !  Pray  for  me  and 
I  hope  we  may  meet  above.  I  hope  to  hear  from  you  soon. 
From  your  servant,  C.  S. 


Little  Rock,  January  13,  1889. 
Mr.  J.  M.  Ryder, 

Indianapolis,  Ind. 

I  received  your  most  welcome  letter  and  thank  you  for 
the  information  you  have  given  me,  but  I  haven't  heard 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  447 

yet  from  your  sister.  The  last  letter  I  got  she  said  that 
she  was  going  to  California.  At  that  time  she  was  at  Salem, 
Oregon.  Have  you  heard  from  her  yet?  There  are  some 
boys  and  men  here  would  like  to  hear  from  her,  for  she 
came  where  some  of  us  could  not  see  the  sun  in  a  week, 
and  about  150  feet  under  the  surface  of  the  earth.  That 
was  at  a  coal  mine. 

We  all  hope  and  pray  to  God,  our  dear  Redeemer,  for  her 
to  come  back  to  us  again. 

Please  answer  this  for  I  am  a  convict  and  glad  to  hear 
from  such  friends.    In  hope  to  hear  soon,  I  remain, 

Yours  sincerely,  C.  S. 


Germantown,  Ark.,  Nov.  29,  1889. 

My  Dear  Sister:  I  am  at  Germantown  at  the  present 
time  working  on  Mr.  W.  H.  Ward's  farm  or  plantation, 
and  the  Warden  of  the  camp  and  the  guards  are  followers 
of  Christ.  There  are  several  of  the  boys  with  me  which 
were  at  Coal  Hill  at  the  time  you  were  there. 

O  sister,  God  worked  that  all  right,  His  name  be  praised. 
One  of  the  Coal  Hill  wardens  got  five  years  in  the  peni- 
tentiary. That  is  God's  work. 

God  be  with  you  and  bless  you  is  my  daily  prayer,  that 
you  will  keep  strong  and  well  to  preach  to  the  poor  prison- 
ers and  pray  for  them  that  they  will  "flee  from  the  wrath 
to  come."  O  sister  it  is  terrible  to  think  and  study  over 
how  the  Book  of  Life  tells  us  about  that  everlasting  torment, 
and  how  sweet  it  is  to  think  that  there  is  a  life  eternal. 

Sister,  there  are  three  ways,  "a  broad  road,"  "a  narrow 
way"  and  "a  highway,"  that  are  thus  brought  to  our  atten- 
tion in  the  Scriptures. 

The  broad  road  to  destruction,  the  narrow  way  to  life, 
the  highway  to  holiness. 


448  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

"And  an  highway  shall  be  there,  and  a  way,  and  it  shall 
be  called  the  way  of  holiness;  the  unclean  shall  not  pass 
over  it ;  but  it  shall  be  for  those,  the  wayfaring  man,  though 
fools  shall  not  err  therein.  No  lion  shall  be  there,  nor  any 
ravenous  beast  shall  go  up  thereon;  it  shall  not  be  found 
there,  but  the  redeemed  shall  walk  there."  Isa.  35 :  8,  9. 
Sister,  am  I  right  or  wrong? 

The  first  great  judgment  (trial  and  sentence)  was  at  the 
beginning,  in  Eden,  when  the  whole  human  race,  as  repre- 
sented in  its  head,  Adam,  stood  on  trial  before  God.  The 
result  of  that  trial  was  the  verdict — -guilty,  disobedient,  un- 
worthy of  life;  and  the  penalty  inflicted  was  Death.  "Dy- 
ing, thou  shalt  die,"  and  so  "In  Adam  all  die."  But,  dear 
sister,  the  sweet  and  dear  thought  in  "Christ  we  all  shall 
live"  is  a  great  comfort  to  our  poor  souls.  Ours  is  a  rugged, 
steep  and  narrow  way,  and  were  it  not  that  strength  is  fur- 
nished for  each  successive  step  of  the  journey,  we  never 
could  reach  the  goal,  but  our  Captain's  word  is  encourag- 
ing: "Be  of  good  courage,  I  have  overcome";  "My  grace 
is  sufficient  for  thee,  and  my  strength  is  made  perfect  in 
weakness."  The  difficulties  of  this  way  are  to  act  as  a 
separating  principle  to  sanctify  and  refine  "a  peculiar  peo- 
ple," to  be  "Heirs  of  God  and  joint-heirs  with  Jesus  Christ." 
In  view  of  these  things,  "let  us  come  boldly  to  the  throne 
of  grace,  that  we  may  obtain  mercy  and  find  grace  to  help 
in  time  of  need,"  "while  we  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith 
and  lay  hold  of  the  crown  of  life."  Immortality,  the  divine 
nature. 

Sister,  I  hope  that  we  may  meet  together  here  in  this 
world  once  more  in  life  so  we  can  talk  about  what  Jesus 
has  wrought,  God  will  be  with  you.  I  know  He  is  with  me. 
Sister,  I  gave  myself  to  Jesus  and  I  feel  more  satisfied,  and 
how  sweet  it  is  to  have  Jesus  with  you 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  449 

THE  DAY  IS  AT  HAND. 

"Poor,  fainting  pilgrim,  still  hold  on  thy  way, 

The  dawn  is  near; 
True,  thou  art  weary  now,  but  yon  bright  ray 

Becomes  more  clear. 
Bear  up  a  little  longer;  wait  for  rest; 
Yield  not  to  slumber,  though  with  toil  oppressed. 
The  night  of  life  is  mournful,  but  look  on  the  judgment  near. 
Soon  will  earth 's  shadowed  scenes  and  forms  be  gone. 

Yield  not  to  fear. 

The  mountain 's  summit  will,  ere  long,  be  gained 
And  the  bright  world  of  joy  and  peace  attained. 
Joyful  through  hope,  thy  motto  still  must  be — 

The  dawn  is  near. 
What  glories  will  that  dawn  unfurl  to  thee! 

Be  of  good  cheer. 

Gird  up  thy  loins,  bind  sandals  on  thy  feet, 
The  way  is  dark  and  long,  the  end  is  sweet. ' ' 

I  hope  to  hear  soon  from  you,  dear  sister.  Meet  me  in 
heaven.  Jesus  is  with  me.  Because  He  cometh  to  judge 
the  earth,  let  the  heavens  be  glad  and  the  earth  rejoice. 

Your  brother,  C  S. 


Germantown,  Jan.  27,  1890. 

Dear  Sister :  I  received  yours  of  the  28th.  I  am  so  glad 
that  you  have  not  forgotten  me,  and  the  words  which  I 
heard  you  say,  although  it  is  a  long  time  since  you  said  them 
at  Coal  Hill.  "Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  thou 
shalt  be  saved."  Acts  xvi.,  31.  Jails  are  dark,  dull,  damp, 
loathsome  places  even  now;  but  they  were  worse  in  the 
apostolic  times.  I  imagine  tonight  we  are  standing  in  the 
Philippian  Dungeon.  Do  you  not  feel  the  chill?  Do  you 
not  hear  the  groan  of  those  incarcerated  ones  who  for  ten 
years  have  not  seen  the  sunlight;  and  the  deep  sigh  of 
women  who  remember  their  father's  house,  and  mourn  over 
their  wasted  estates?  Listen  again.  It  is  enough.  Oh,  it 
is  the  cough  of  the  consumptive,  or  the  struggle  of  one  in 
a  nightmare  of  a  great  horror.  You  listen  again,  and  hear 
a  culprit,  his  chains  rattling  as  he  rolls  over  in  his  dreams, 


450  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

and  you  say:  "God  pity  the  prisoner."  But  there  is  an- 
other sound  in  that  prison.  It  is  a  song  of  joy  and  gladness. 
What  a  place  to  sing  in.  The  music  comes  winding  through 
the  corridors  of  the  prison  and  in  all  dark  wards  the  whisper 
is  heard:  "What's  that?  What's  that?"  It  was  the  song 
of  Silas  and  Paul  in  prison,  and  they  cannot  sleep.  Jesus 
went  to  prison  then,  and  as  you  say  He  will  and  does  come 
nowadays  also  to  visit  the  prisoners  as  they  are  shut  up. 
God  will  be  and  is  our  helper.  I  will  not  fear,  He  leadeth 
me  in  pastures  green.  Your  brother  in  Christ,  C.  S. 

Germantown,  May  16,  1890. 

Dear  Sister:  Your  letter  of  February  I7th  duly  received, 
and  glad  to  hear  from  you.  But,  sister,  I  am  so  glad  to 
have  some  Christian  friend  to  write  to  me  in  a  place  of 
temptation  and  trouble.  I  know  that  Jesus  is  my  rock  and 
my  salvation  and  a  shelter  in  a  storm.  Jesus  is  with  me 
right  now.  He  is  waiting  for  us  every  day  and  hour.  O, 
how  many  will  there  be  that  will  call  on  Christ  on  that 
day,  when  the  book  of  the  Lord  will  be  opened,  with  the 
seven  seals,  and  who  will  be  able  to  open  the  seals  ?  No  one 
is  able  to  open  it  but  the  Lamb.  Sister,  this  is  my  idea 
and  opinion  about  that  Day:  There  will  be  a  great  big 
scale,  with  a  cross  beam  and  Satan  will  be  on  one  side  of 
it  and  the  people  of  all  trades  will  be  weighed,  and  if 
Christ  the  Son  of  God  and  our  Redeemer,  is  not  there  to 
balance  them,  what  will  become  of  them?  Won't  they  be 
thrown  down  in  hell? 

Hoping  and  trusting  faithfully  that  there  be  many  of  the 
poor  prisoners  among  the  hundred  and  forty  and  four  thou- 
sand with  the  Lamb  on  Mount  Zion,  with  the  Father's  name 
written  in  their  foreheads  and  the  harpers  will  be  harping 
with  their  harps  and  singing  the  new  song  which  no  man 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  451 

could  learn,  but  the  hundred  and  forty  and  four  thousand 
which  were  redeemed  from  the  earth.  O,  what  a  day  that 
will  be!  O  that  song  is  so  true.  O  sinner  give  your  heart 
to  God  and  you  shall  have  a  new  hiding  place  that  day. 
O  the  rocks  in  the  mountain  shall  all  fade  away  and  you 
shall  have  a  new  hiding  place  that  day.  "O  sinner  turn, 
why  will  ye  die?  God  in  mercy  asks  you  why." 
O,  I  am  so  happy  tonight ! 

Your  brother,  C.  S. 


Germantown,  Ark.,  Dec.  18,  1890. 

Dear  Sister :  Your  kind  words  gladly  received,  and  may 
God  bless  you  and  give  you  strength  in  your  undertakings. 

Sister,  forgive  those  wicked  men  who  put  you  in  prison 
for  preaching  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  for  He, 
the  Lord,  said:  "Father  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not 
what  they  do,"  and  Silas  and  Paul  in  prison  sang  praises 
to  the  Lord  our  God  and  He  delivered  them  from  the 
prison  in  which  they  lay,  and  the  jailor  got  saved. 

Oh !  my  dear  sister,  I  trust  and  pray  to  the  Lord  that  we 
could  safely  say  with  Robert  McChane,  the  ascended  min- 
ister of  Scotland,  who,  seated  on  the  banks  of  Galilee's 
Lake,  wrote,  in  his  last  sick  days,  and  just  before  he  crossed 
the  Jordan  .(not  the  Jordan  that  empties  into  the  Lake  of 
Gallilee,  but  the  Jordan  that  empties  into  the  "sea  of  glass 
mingled  with  fire"),  these  sweet  words,  fit  to  be  played  by 
human  fingers  on  strings  of  earthly  lute,  or  by  angelic 
fingers  on  seraphic  harps: 

"It  is  not  that  the  mild  gazelle 

Comes   down  to   drink  thy  tide, 
But  He  that  was  pierced  to  save  from  hell, 

Oft  wandered  by  thy  side. 
Graceful  around  thee  the  mountains  meet 
Thou  calm,  reposing  sea; 
But,  ah!    far  more,  the  beautiful  feet 


452  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

Of  Jesus  walked  o'er  thee. 
O  Saviour!   gone  to  God's  right  hand, 

Yet  the  same  Saviour  still, 
Graved  on  thy  heart  is  this  lovely  strand 

And  every  fragrant  hill. ' ' 

O !  is  it  not  good  to  be  with  one's  Lord  and  to  think  how 
sweet  He  says  in  his  Book  of  Books:  "I  am  the  way," 
and  in  danger  He  speaks  again :  "Fear  not,  it  is  I." 

The  Lord  is  with  me  for  I  do  not  have  to  work  in  the 
ranks  any  more,  and  by  His  help  I  am  assistant  postmaster 
of  this  place. 

Until  we  leave,  and  that  time  will  be  Christmas,  address 
your  next  letter  to  Little  Rock. 

That  you  may  save  many  souls  from  everlasting  torture 
is  my  prayer  every  hour.  My  love  to  the  poor  sinful  prison- 
ers and  to  you,  my  dear  sister  in  Christ. 

A  happy  Christmas,  and  may  God  bless  you  to  live  and 
see  many  more. 

I  will  sing  now : 

"I  was  once  far  away  from  the  Saviour"  and 
"When   Jesus    shall   gather   the  nations   before   Him   at   last   to 
appear. ' ' 

Oh !  I  am  so  happy !    Goodnight, 

Ever,  S. 


Wichita,  Kansas. 
Dear  Sister: 

This  is  to  acknowledge  yours  of  the  I5th  inst.,  and  was 
glad  to  hear  that  you  have  received  my  letter.  Well,  sister, 
we  have  our  regular  meeting  every  Sunday,  and  I  will 
never  cease  praying  to  the  Lord  that  He  may  help  me  to  live 
my  life,  and  that  I  can  say,  like  our  great  Brother  said,  that 
no  man  can  measure  the  glories  which  God  has  revealed  to 
us.  Glory  to  Thee,  O  God,  glory  to  Thee!  *  *  * 

It  is  said  that  religionists  make  too  much  of  the  human- 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  453 

ity  of  Christ.  I  respond  that  they  make  too  little.  If  some 
doctor  or  surgeon  of  His  day,  standing  under  the  cross, 
had  caught  one  drop  of  the  blood  on  his  hands  and  analyzed 
it,  it  would  have  been  found  to  have  the  same  plasma,  the 
same  disk,  the  same  fiber,  the  same  albumen.  It  was  un- 
mistakably human  blood.  It  is  a  man  that  hangs  there. 
His  bones  are  of  the  same  material  as  ours.  His  nerves  are 
as  sensitive  as  ours.  If  it  were  an  angel  being  despoiled,  I 
would  not  feel  it  so  much,  for  it  belongs  to.  a  different 
being.  But  my  Saviour  is  a  man  and  my  whole  sympathy 
is  aroused.  Jesus  our  King  is  dying.  Let  couriers  carry 
the  swift  dispatch.  His  pains  are  worse;  He  is  breathing 
a  last  groan;  through  his  body  quivers  the  last  anguish. 
The  King  is  dying ;  the  King  is  dead !  His  royal  blood  is 
shed. 

I  can  imagine  something  of  how  the  spikes  felt ;  of  how 
the  temples  burned ;  what  deathly  sickness  seized  His 
heart ;  of  how  mountain  and  city  and  mob  swam  away 
from  His  dying  vision ;  something  of  that  cry  for  help  that 
makes  the  blood  of  all  ages  curdle  with  horror:  "My  God, 
my  God,  why  hast  Thou  forsaken  me?"  *  *  * 

O!   Jerusalem,  my  happy  home, 

When  shall  I  come  to  thee; 
When  shall  my  sorrows  have  an  end! 

Thy  joys,  when  shall  I  see? 
Jerusalem,  my  happy  home, 

Would  God  that  I  were  there! 
Would  God  my  tears  were  at  an  end, 

Thy  joys,  that  I  might  share. 

I  am  so  glad  that  I  can  write  to  you.  I  never  will  cease 
praying  for  you. 

I  remain,  your  brother. 

C.  H. 


454  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Washington   County  Jail. 

Greenville,  Miss.,  Jan.  29,  1889. 

My  Dear  Sisters : 

I  cannot  express  my  feelings  when  I  read  your  kind  let- 
ters. They  make  me  feel  as  though  you  were  still  at  my 
prison  door.  I  know  I  am  not  the  same  boy  that  came  to 
prison.  I  feel  much  better  in  every  way.  I  read  my  Bible 
instead  of  novels,  and  find  more  pleasure  in  it. 

I  expect  to  get  out  of  prison  soon,  and  when  I  do  I  want 
to  write  you  a  long  letter.  Mr.  McL.  was  to  see  me  to-day, 
and  read  your  letters-.  He  said  he  would  also  write  you 
to-day.  There  is  a  great  change  in  him  since  you  were 
here. 

All  the  boys  send  love.  Direct  me  as  before,  care  Geo. 
S.  If  I  get  out  I  will  work  for  him  here.  I  am,  as  ever, 

Your  true  friend  and  brother,  J.  F.  D. 

Penitentiary  at  Yuma,  Ariz.,  May  19,  1889. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Friend :  Your  kind  letter,  written  from  Los  An- 
geles, Cal.,  has  been  received,  after  much  delay.  We  are 
all  glad  to  hear  from  you,  and  thank  you  very  much  for 
your  kind  remembrance  and  the  good  advice  given  to  us 
in  your  letter,  and  when  you  spoke  to  us  here  in  the  prison. 
Most  all  the  boys  hold  you  in  kind  remembrance  and  often 
express  their  wishes  to  see  you  and  hear  you  talk  again,  and 
I  sincerely  hope  it  will  be  convenient  for  you  to  call  and  see 
us  in  the  near  future.  The  short  visit  you  paid  us  awak- 
ened earnest  thought  in  a  number  of  the  boys,  and  I  am 
confident  a  few  more  such  visits  would  result  in  much  good 
to  many  of  the  inmates  of  this  institution. 

Asking  your  prayers,  I  remain, 

Respectfully,  J.  E.  W. 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  455 

Deer  Lodge,  July  15,  1889. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton. 

Madam :  I  received  your  postal  last  Friday,  and  was 
very  pleased  to  hear  from  you  and  to  know  that  although 
far  away  you  still  hold  us  in  kindly  remembrance.  There 
are  so  few  who  think  of  us  after  the  prison  door  has  closed. 
The  boys  who  were  so  fortunate  as  to  meet  you,  and  even 
those  who  only  heard  of  your  good  work,  wish  to  be  remem- 
bered to  you.  So  far  as  we  are  personally  concerned,  there 
have  been  no  changes,  and  we  will  very  probably  go 
through  the  same  routine  day  in  and  out  until  our  several 
times  have  expired. 


KITCHEN   AND  DINING  ROOM   OF  PRISON,   DEER   LODGE,    MONT. 

I  can  safely  say  that  you  have  made  a  greater  impression 
upon  us  than  any  others  we  have  been  privileged  to  hear. 
In  the  intercessions  you  make  with  the  Ruler  of  All,  we  ask 
to  be  remembered,  and  hope  that  you  will  receive  all  the 
returns  of  good  which  your  work  so  richly  merits.  If  you 
can  find  time  in  the  future,  you  can  give  us  no  greater  pleas- 
ure than  writing  us,  even  if  only  so  much  as  may  be  placed 
upon  a  postal. 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

HERBERT  A.  M.   (Librarian). 


456  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Cole  City,  Bade  Co.,  Ga.,  July  5,  1890. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton : 

Yours  of  May  25th  received  yesterday  in  this  camp  and 
contents  duly  noted.  How  it  thrills  the  hearts  of  the  boys 
to  hear  the  reading  of  a  letter  written  by  the  hand  of 
"Mother  Wheaton,"  the  friend  of  the  unfortunate  ones. 
Dear  Christian  Mother,  you  can't  imagine  the  encourage- 
ment it  gives  to  the  boys  here,  especially  those  who  are  try- 
ing to  do  right.  Your  work  has  been  implanted  here  so 
very  deep  that  God  cannot,  according  to  His  promise,  oblit- 
erate it,  for  He  approves  of  all  good  works.  You  shall 
have  our  prayers,  and  we  desire  to  have  your  presence 
again  when  possible. 

I  intended  to  take  your  letter  to  Rattlesnake  Camp  No.  4 
to  read  to  the  boys  up  there,  as  Capt.  Brock  promised  me 
I  might  go,  but  for  some  reason,  I  know  not  what,  I  failed 
to  get  off,  but  I  do  hope  and  believe  the  way  will  be  opened 
for  us  prison-bound  boys  who  desire  to  do  a  work  for  Him 
to  do  it  without  fear. 

I  received  also  enclosed  in  your  letter  a  most  interesting 
pamphlet  of  "Capt.  Ball's  Experience,"  which  is  so  grand. 
Also  another  of  the  "Widow  and  the  Judge." 

We  have  a  very  good  Sunday  school  here  now,  arid  I 
am  trying  tov  make  it  as  interesting  as  I  possibly  can,  and 
any  books  and  Sunday  school  papers  and  catechisms  you 
can  send  us  will  be  quite  a  favor.  That  would  have  been 
my  business  at  No.  4  Camp  to-day,  if  I  could  have  gone,  to 
organize  a  Sunday  school. 

I  must  close  by  asking  an  interest  in  your  prayers.  Write 
often. 

Your  friend  and  brother  in  Christ, 

J.  W.  S.,  Camp  No.  3.  . 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  457 

Eastern  Penitentiary,  Philadelphia,  Dec.  15,  1890. 
Dear  Madam: 

Your  invitation  given  any  of  the  prisoners  who  may  wish 
to  write,  I  for  one  accept.  I  was  greatly  impressed  with 
your  words  of  truth  and  the  earnest,  determined  manner 
in  which  they  were  spoken.  I  believe  they  proved  an  ex- 
ception to  the  routine  of  professed  Christianity  we  are  used 
to,  and  have  set  more  than  one  mind  to  thinking  of  their 
spiritual  condition.  I  assure  you  they  were  not  without 
effect,  and  that  you  are  engaged  in  a  noble  work,  of  which 
I  and  others  would  be  glad  to  hear  more. 

True  it  is  that  in  the  world  around  us  are  many  persons 
struggling  with  poverty  as  great  as  ours,  who  are  loaded 
with  cares  and  anxieties  which  seem  to  hinder  them  in  the 
service  of  God.  There  are  many  who  cannot  offer  him  a 
pure  heart  which  has  never  been  stained  by  sin,  yet  in  the 
grief  for  misspent  time  and  neglected  grace  would  gladly 
atone  for  the  past  by  fervent,  grateful  love,  casting  them- 
selves upon  the  mercy  of  the  Saviour. 

I  am  an  old  soldier,  have  fought  in  the  late  war,  but 
the  greatest  battle  I  have  yet  to  fight  is  with  myself — the 
battle  of  reformation. 

Almighty  God,  in  His  wondrous  wisdom,  has  chosen  His 
saints  from  every  rank  of  life — some  poor  and  unknown  to 
the  world  while  they  are  in  it;  others  great  and  powerful; 
no  two  have  been  exactly  alike,  even  in  their  way  of  pleas- 
ing the  Lord. 

The  "boys"  here  are  satisfied  your  mission  was  for  good, 
and  left  them  knowing  that  for  once  they  were  not  locked 
up  within  the  hearing  of  false  professors.  To  say  that 
"locks"  would  not  be  necessary  to  hold  a  congregation 
within  your  hearing  would  be  well  founded.  For  a  great 
many  others  this  could  not  be  said. 


458  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

The  boys  from  Block  9  send  you  their  respects,  and 
would  be  glad  to  hear  from  you  again ;  would  be  glad  to 
hear  that  you  received  this  and  that  our  appreciation  of 
your  service  be  accepted. 

Respectfully  yours,  A  2552. 


Washington  County  Jail. 

Greenville,  Miss.,  Jan.  9,  1890. 
Dear  Sister: 

Your  postal  of  the  5th  to  hand.  The  boys  are  all  glad  to 
hear  from  you. 

Mr.  McL.  was  acquitted  and  was  the  proudest  boy  I 
ever  saw.  The  St.  Louis  boy  also  got  free  and  went  home 
to  his  mother. 

There  has  been  a  great  change  in  the  prisoners  since  you 
were  here.  They  are  always  praying  and  singing,  and  you 
are  remembered  in  every  prayer.  I  don't  think  I  am  the 
same  boy  that  came  to  jail;  I  know  my  poor  old  mother 
will  be  proud  of  me  when  I  see  her  again.  She  lives  in 
Mobile,  Alabama,  and  it  has  been  three  years  since  she 
saw  me,  but  I  am  praying  to  meet  her  soon  and  be  a  son 
to  her,  as  I  never  was  before.  I  feel  like  I  could  teach 
young  men  some  good  lessons  if  I  get  out  of  this  place. 

We  received  some  reading  matter  from  you  a  few  days 
ago.  Please  let  me  hear  from  you  whenever  you  can  spare 
the  time  to  write.  All  the  boys  join  me  in  love  and  hope 
to  hear  from  you  again  soon. 

Your  friend  and  brother, 

J.  D.  (alias  the  Artist). 


Penitentiary,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  April  14,  1901. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton, 

Dear  Madam:     Your  welcome  and  interesting  letter  to 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  459 

hand  and  contents  noted,  being  exceedingly  pleased  to  hear 
from  you.  In  response  would  state,  your  letter,  though  a 
great  surprise,  has  been  read  by  many  of  the  inmates  of  this 
institution  with  great  interest,  you  being  the  only  one,  so  far, 
who  has  shown  enough  respect  for  us  to  address  a  few  lines 
to  us  by  mail.  For  this  kindly  remembrance  and  respect, 
please  accept  our  united  thanks,  with  the  wish  that  as  you 
are  journeying  along  life's  pathway  you  may  escape  many 
of  the  annoyances  which  you  have  been  subjected  to  in  the 
past,  while  dispensing  the  gospel  tidings  to  a  class  of  unfor- 
tunates. After  your  departure  from  here,  am  pleased  to 
state,  the  "Boys"  have  taken  a  deeper  interest  in  Jesus  and 
His  works  than  ever  before,  and  I  verily  believe  that  were 
you  to  come  again  you  would  have  no  difficulty  in  bringing 
many  of  them  to  the  foot  of  the  Cross.  Bibles  that  have  lain 
for  months  in  cells,  covered  with  dust,  have  been  taken  up 
and  read  with  avidity,  selecting  texts  as  you  suggested  for 
future  guidance,  and  many  are  the  prayers  and  kind  words 
which  ascend  nightly  to  the  Throne  of  Grace  in  your  behalf 
— prayers  for  your  future  guidance  and  welfare,  with  health 
to  sustain  you  in  your  glorious  work  of  reclaiming  the  err- 
ing and  fallen.  God  speed  the  good  work  along !  We  wish 
there  were  more  like  you,  to  bring  a  few  kind  and  cheering 
words  to  sustain  us,  while  undergoing  this  isolation.  Your 
voice  has  lingered  in  our  ears  ever  since  you  left,  and  many 
of  the  boys  here  would  like  to  secure,  if  they  possibly  could, 
a  copy  of  that  wonderful  song  you  sang  for  us,  "Throw  Out 
the  Life-line."  If  you  would  kindly  forward  a  copy,  as  it 
is  not  in  our  hymn-books,  it  would  be  very  acceptable. 

You  may  rest  assured,  no  firmer,  truer  or  better  friends 
are  to  be  found  than  those  you  possess  in  the  Utah  Peni- 
tentiary. Allow  us  to  hope  that  when  comparing  this  insti- 


460  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

tution  with  some  of  the  grander  ones  you  may  visit  in  the 
East,  you  will  not  speak  disparagingly  of  your  boys  out 
West,  but  remember  there  are  as  many  honest  hearts  beating 
beneath  striped  jackets  here  as  you  will  find  anywhere,  with 
none  more  willing  to  do  you  a  favor.  In  conclusion,  accept 
our  united  and  kindest  regards.  Hoping  that  after  your 
life's  labors  are  finished  on  this  earth,  you  may  find  that 
"Haven  of  Rest,"  where  it  shall  be  said  to  you,  "Well  done, 
thou  good  and  faithful  servant;  enter  ye  into  the  kingdom 
of  Heaven,"  trusting  these  few  lines  may  give  you  further 
encouragement,  and  hoping  to  hear  from  you  again,  with 
united  thanks  for  past  remembrance,  I  remain, 

Yours  most  respectfully,  M.  M. 


Baton  Rouge,  La.,  October  u,  1891. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton. 

My  Dear  Sister:  Yours  addressed  to  the  boys  in  prison 
here  was  received,  and  I  shall  take  the  responsibility  of  an- 
swering your  letter,  which  is  so  full  of  the  Word  of  God. 

Your  songs  I  shall  never  forget.  I  wish  you  could  come 
and  pray  for  us  and  sing  those  sweet  songs  to  us  every  day. 

I  have  got  a  life  sentence  in  this  prison.  I  do  not  know 
whether  you  remember  me  or  not,  but  I  remember  you  and 
always  will,  I  hope,  and  I  pray  to  meet  you  in  Heaven.  Since 
I  listened  to  the  songs  you  sang,  I  have  felt  that  I  was 
nearer  Heaven  than  ever  before.  Your  few  minutes  with 
us  in  this  prison  helped  me  more  than  all  others  that  I 
ever  heard  preach  the  Word  of  God.  Your  service  enlight- 
ened me  more.  I  feel  better  and  I  think  that  every  one  in 
here  will  long  remember  your  few  minutes'  talk  with  them 
on  that  blessed  Sunday  morning.  I  shall  constantly  pray 
and  try  to  become  as  pure  in  heart  as  I  think  you  are.  Your 
home  is  surely  in  Heaven,  and  I  will  endeavor  to  reach  that 


OR   A   LABOR   OF   LOVE  461 

home  and  meet  you  there.    Pray  for  me  that  I  may  become 
acceptable  in  the  sight  of  our  Lord. 

I  pray  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  the  love  of 
God  and  the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost  be  with  you. 

B.  P. 


Lancaster,  Neb.,  Oct.  25,  1891. 
Our  Dear  Sister  in  the  Lord : 

I  received  your  kind  note  through  our  Brother  Burge.  I 
am  thankful  for  your  words  to  us  and  for  the  encourage- 
ment I  received  through  you.  I  am  trying  to  live  a  Chris- 
tian life,  to  follow  the  teachings  of  the  words  of  God  in  the 
book  He  has  given.  I  am  persuaded  of  myself  I  can  do 
nothing,  but  by  the  help  of  God  and  our  Saviour  I  am  able 
to  resist  temptations  and  sin.  The  world  looks  down  upon 
me  from  two  standpoints — the  one  because  of  my  color,  and 
the  other  because  I  try  to  serve  the  living  God  through 
Christ  our  Lord.  I  feel  that  I  am  weak  and  need  much 
help,  both  from  the  Lord  and  from  the  brethren  and  sisters. 
I  need  your  prayers  daily  to  help  me  in  my  surroundings 
and  trials.  We  are  hated  and  mocked,  but  this  does  not 
move  us.  My  faith  is  strong  and  I  will,  through  the  grace 
of  God,  meet  you  in  Heaven.  In  my  imagination  I  still 
hear  those  words  that  you  spoke  to  us,  and  I  hope  they  will 
continue  to  ring  in  my  ear. 

I  do  not  fail  to  mention  you  in  my  prayer  to  God  the 
Father,  in  the  name  of  our  Lord  and  Master. 

Our  chaplain  has  just  returned  from  the  prison  congress 
and  he  gave  us  a  talk  on  prison  reform. 

From  your  brother  that  is  colored,  that  had  a  talk  with 
you  in  the  warden's  office.  J.  H.  No.  1579. 


462  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

West  Virginia  Penitentiary,  Jan.  31,  1892. 
Dear  Sister  Wheaton : 

Your  letter  to  "Boys  in  the  Penitentiary"  was  received, 
and  it  gave  me  pleasure  to  read  it  to  them  in  the  chapel,  as 
also  that  enclosed  for  the  female  prisoners ;  and  after  read- 
ing the  latter  the  officer  in  charge  gave  it  to  the  sisters,  and 
they  can  digest  its  helpful  contents  in  the  quietude  of  their 
own  apartments. 

At  the  very  mention  of  a  letter  from  you  I  could  see  many 
faces  light  up  with  interest,  and  I  am  sure  your  earnest  and 
faithful  appeals  for  recruits  to  the  Master's  cause  on  your 
visits  to  this  place  will  never  be  forgotten ;  also  that  many 
hearts  feel  to  thank  you  for  the  kindly  and  unabated  interest 
that  prompted  your  letter  of  cheer  and  encouragement.  God 
bless  you  with  power  by  His  Spirit  in  your  noble  work. 
Twenty-six  lifetime  men  are  confined  here,  and  I  am  one  of 
the  number ;  but  I  am  glad  to  tell  you  that  even  here  I  have 
learned  a  freedom  which  is  not  compassed  by  iron  bars,  and 
I  am  looking  forward  with  confidence  when  I  will  come  into 
the  full  enjoyment  of  that  inheritance  which  is  "incorrupti- 
ble, undefiled  and  fadeth  not  away."  Have  been  here  over 
thirteen  years;  converted  twelve  years  and  nine  months 
ago,  and  have  been  trying  to  do  something  for  my  Master 
ever  since,  and  I  feel  glad  that  He  has  wonderfully  blessed 
and  kept  me  in  His  love.  Pray  for  us  that  God  will  save  the 
fallen. 

Yours  in  Christian  love,  W.  S.  D. 


Oregon  State  Penitentiary. 

Salem,  Ore.,  April  3,  1892. 

Dear  Mother  Wheaton : 

Your  kind  letter  was  handed  to  me  by  our  Superintendent 
to-day,  and  we  were  more  than  pleased  to  hear  from  you* 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  463 

May  our  Father  in  Heaven  protect  and  keep  you  for  many 
years  to  come  in  the  faithful  work  of  rescuing  the  souls  of 
men  who  are  so  far  astray  that  each  one  saved  seems  like  a 
miracle.  Many  a  prayer  has  gone  up  from  the  solitudes  of 
our  prison  cells  for  Mother  Wheaton's  health  and  success, 
and  many  of  us  in  conversation  have  oft  repeated,  "God 
bless  Mother  Wheaton !"  But  we  have  not  lost  sight  of 
Jesus,  always  our  Friend.  We  have  services  every  Sunday. 
Mother  Smith  (God  bless  her!)  comes  once  a  month,  and 
each  Sunday  our  pulpit  is  occupied  by  some  minister  from 
the  city.  Then  some  night  during  the  week  our  choir  has 
rehearsal;  so  you  see,  we  have  plenty  of  opportunity  to 
worship  and  listen  to  the  divine  Word,  and  in  consequence 
we  are  very  grateful  to  our  kind  officials,  who  earnestly  look 
out  for  our  spiritual  welfare,  especially  Mr.  Downing,  our 
good  Christian  Superintendent,  who  would  not  rest  easy  if  he 
thought  one  of  us  was  in  want  of  anything  that  he  could 
obtain  for  us  that  would  be  for  our  good.  We  often  think 
of  the  difference  between  some  other  prisons  and  ours.  "Oh, 
Father  in  Heaven,  not  as  we  will,  but  as  Thou  wilt,  but 
spread  a  little  divine  love  in  those  quarters  where  it  is  so 
much  needed" — that  is  often  our  prayer. 

God  bless  you  and  protect  you  in  your  noble  work,  and 
may  the  jewels  in  your  crown  be  many,  are  the  prayers  of 
many  of  the  inmates  of  this  institution,  and  when  you  come 
again  many  an  honest  hand  will  unite  with  yours  in  our 
expression  of  love  and  faithfulness  for  Him  who  died  on 
Calvary,  not  in  the  arms  of  a  loving  mother,  but  between 
two  such  men  as  many  of  us  have  been;  yet  one  of  them 
dwells  with  Him  in  Paradise,  which  proves  to  a  certainty 
that  He  saves  to  the  uttermost.  God  bless  you  again.  Write 
us  often,  and  when  you  reach  those  pearly  gates  there  will 


464  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

be  those  to  meet  you  who  will  say,  "You  showed  me  the 
way."  Yours  in  Christ. 

WM.  AND  YOUR  BOYS. 


Lancaster,  Neb.,  Aug.  20,  1892. 
Dear  Sister  in  the  Lord : 

Yours  of  the  5th  at  hand.  I  always  rejoice  to  hear  from 
you,  or  to  hear  you  speak,  for  your  words  are  words  of  com- 
fort, and  are  after  the  doctrine  of  our  Lord  and  Master  and 
according  to  the  Scripture.  It  is  a  great  comfort  to  me  to 
hear  or  speak  with  those  that  live  in  Christ  Jesus.  No  I  have 
no  thought  of  turning  back  to  the  poor  and  weak  elements  of 
this  world.  By  the  help  of  the  Lord  I  will  press  on  to  the 
end,  that  I  may  claim  all  the  promises,  and  I  want  to  be 
found  faithful  in  all  good  works,  and  in  doing  good  to  those 
that  have  need.  The  promise  you  spoke  of  can  be  found  in 
Revelation,  14:12.  You  ask  if  I  will  seek  to  be  such.  Yes, 
with  all  my  heart.  God,  that  knows  all  our  hearts,  knows 
that  my  desire  is  to  live  and  work  for  His  sake  and  for  His 
glory.  As  for  me,  I  am  not  worthy  to  be  called  His  child, 
but  only  a  servant,  because  I  have  wasted  my  life  in  sin 
when  I  ought  to  have  served  my  God  and  Lord.  But  four 
years  ago  the  Lord  drew  me  unto  Him.  I  repented  of  my 
ways,  gave  my  heart  and  soul  to  God  the  Father,  and  Jesus 
our  Lord.  I  received  forgiveness  of  my  sins,  and  not  many 
days  after  I  received  the  promise  of  my  Lord.  That  was 
the  promise  of  the  Comforter,  which  came  to  me — even  me. 
And  now  shall  I  turn  back?  No,  God  helping  me,  I  will 
endure  all  things ;  for  He  is  able  to  keep  me  in  the  hour  of 
temptation.  And  oh!  His  promises  are  so  true  to  them 
that  put  their  trust  in  Him.  In  Isaiah,  41  st  chapter  and 
loth  verse,  and  £.gain  in  1st  Kings,  I9th  chapter,  7th  verse, 
we  are  told  the  journey  is  too  great  for  us  without  God's 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  465 

help.  But  if  we  accept  the  help  we  shall  be  faithful  to  the 
end.  'And  here  is  another  promise  that  He  will  help  in  time 
of  need:  "Lo!  I  am  with  you  always,. even  unto  the  end  of 
the  world."  (Matt.  28:20.) 

He  has  promised  to  reward  us  according  to  our  works. 
(Rev.  22  :i2.)  I  have  done  nothing  worthy  of  reward.  But 
you  have  labored  and  have  kept  the  faith,  and  God  will  re- 
ward you  for  all  your  trials  and  tribulations,  and  give  you 
a  crown  that  will  never  fade.  Yes,  God  helping  me,  I  will 
meet  you  in  Heaven,  where  there  is  no  more  sorrow  and  no 
more  weeping,  but  joy  in  our  Saviour.  May  God  bless  you. 
May  He  give  you  health  and  strength  to  the  end,  is  my 
prayer.  Pray  for  me,  for  the  prayer  of  the  righteous  avail- 
eth  much.  Yours  in  Jesus,  P.  B. 

Ionia,  Mich.,  October  21,  1894. 
Mrs.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Madam :  I  write  to  thank  you  for  those  pamphlets 
you  sent  me,  and  I  think  I  can  say  they  did  me  good.  At 
any  rate,  I  am  trying  to  faithfully  follow  their  suggestions. 
I  practically  devour  any  of  that  kind  of  reading,  for,  thank 
God,  I  do  hunger  and  thirst  after  instruction  in  His  word — 
I  should  like  to  have  said  righteousness,  but  I  don't — there ! 
I  cannot  finish  what  I  was  going  to  say,  for  a  blessed  thought 
has  just  come  to  me — that  is,  Abraham  believed  God,  and  it 
was  counted  to  him  for  righteousness.  I  not  only  believe 
God,  but  Jesus  Christ  also.  So  I  believe  I  may  say  I  hunger 
and  thirst  after  righteousness.  Anyhow,  I  pray  every  day 
to  get  nearer  to  God.  You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  I  have 
decided  to  leave  all  and  follow  Him.  I  have  consecrated 
my  life  to  His  service.  When  I  get  out,  wherever  I  feel 
that  He  calls  me,  I  shall  go  there,  if  it  is  to  China.  I  am 
praying  for  sanctification.  I  want  to  get  so  close  to  God 


466  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

as  to  always  be  able  to  feel  His  presence.  This  is  just  two 
weeks  since  you  were  here,  and  I  started  to  serve  God. 
Praise  the  Lord,  I  think  I  am  justified  in  saying  that  I  am 
a  new  lad. 

I  have  given  up  tobacco  and  don't  feel  the  need  of  it  any 
more  than  if  I  had  never  tasted  it.  I  have  given  up  profanity 
just  as  easily.  Now  I  want  to  read  the  Bible  every  day. 
Since  you  were  here  I  have  read  Corinthians  I  and  II,  Rev- 
elations, Proverbs,  Ecclesiastes,  Ruth,  and  am  now  reading 
the  Acts  of  the  Apostles.  Before  you  came  I  had  thought  a 
little  of  being  a  Christian,  but  had  not  taken  any  steps 
towards  it,  but  you  decided  me,  and  I  thank  you  for  it. 

I  must  close  now  or  my  paper  will  give  out.  Pray  for 
me  that  I  may  receive  sanctification  and  have  the  indwelling 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  God  bless  you. 

I  remain,  yours  sincerely  and  respectfully, 

M.  J.  B. 

Lancaster,  Neb.,  Feb.  3,  1895. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton. 

My  Dear  Sister  in  Christ :  Yours  was  received  with  wel- 
come and  thanksgiving  to  our  Lord  that  comforts  us  through 
His  Holy  Spirit.  Yes,  God  has  given  me  grace  to  overcome 
many  temptations.  He  is  my  whole  trust  and  confidence, 
and  I  know  He  hears  my  prayers,  and  He  will  open  a  door 
for  you  here.  There  are  some  hungry  souls  here  for  the 
truth.  I  believe  if  you  had  been  permitted  to  have  service, 
some  would  have  been  saved.  About  the  first  of  December 
there  were  some  seeking  quite  sincerely.  My  desire  is  that 
I  might  be  found  faithful  to  the  end,  and  I  ask  your  prayers 
for  me  to  Him  who  is  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost.  I  am 
so  glad  you  had  the  Spirit  of  God  in  your  service  in  Lincoln 


OR   A   LABOR   OF   LOVE  467 

December  25.  We  had  the  follies  of  this  world  without  the 
Spirit  of  God.  But  the  world  knows  its  own  and  they  please 
not  our  Lord.  And  because  we  are  not  of  the  world,  the 
world  hates  us,  and  that  without  a  cause.  I  have  been  pray- 
ing for  you  that  God  will  give  you  the  victory  In  all  things. 
And  now  may  the  peace  and  grace  of  God  our  Lord  be  with 
all  His  saints  and  them  that  truly  love  Him. 

From  your  brother  in  Jesus,  P.  B.  B. 

Cole  City,  Ga.,  April  26,  1896. 
Mrs.  Wheaton. 

Dear  Mother:  I  take  the  pleasure  of  writing  you  a  few 
lines. 

I  do  hope  that  1  can  meet  you  and  tell  you  the  good  you 
have  done  me.  God  is  the  one  and  the  only  one  I  look  to. 
I  want  to  go  to  Heaven  and  believe  I  will.  I  believe  some 
day,  if  we  do  not  meet  on  earth  again,  that  we  will  meet  in 
Heaven. 

Poor  and  needy  though  I  be, 
God,  my  maker,   cares  for  me; 
Gives  me  clothing,  shelter,  food; 
He  will  hear  me  when  I  pray* 
He  is  with  me  night  and  day, 
When  I  sleep  and  when  I  waka 
Keeps  me  safe  for  Jesus  *  sake, 
He  who  reigns  above  the  sky, 
Once  became  as  poor  as  I. 

He  whose  blood  for  me  was  shed, 
Had  not  where  to  lay  His  head. 
Though  I  labor  here  awhile, 
He  will  bless  me  with  His  smile. 
And  when  this  short  life  is  past, 
I  shall  rest  with  Him  at  last. 

I  hope  and  pray  that  you  will  have  power  and  strength  to 
obey  the  Master's  will 

Good-bye,  R  McM. 


468  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Boise  City,  Idaho,  May  n,  1896. 
Mrs.  Wheaton. 

My  Dear  Mother  in  Christ:  I  hope  you  are  well  and 
enjoying  the  love  of  the  Lord.  It  is  a  great  thing  to  be  in  a 
position  to  work  for  the  Lord  Jesus.  We  are  having  good 
services  now  every  Sunday,  and  we  have  a  good  Bible  class 
of  our  own.  The  Lord  has  wonderfully  blessed  this  place, 
and  I  hope  to  see  many  souls  saved.  Praise  God !  All  the 
boys  send  love  and  wish  to  see  you,  and  we  all  wish  you  suc- 
cess. God  bless  you  in  your  good  work.  W.  B. 


Waupun,  Wis.,  Feb.  26,  1897. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton  and  Mrs.  Kelly, 

Dear  Friends:  Enclosed  please  find  P.  O.  order  for 
$6.66,  which  is  sent  you  with  the  best  wishes  of  the  inmates 
of  this  institution,  as  a  slight  token  of  the  appreciation 
which  we  have  of  your  efforts  toward  the  uplifting  of  fallen 
beings  like  ourselves,  and  the  upbuilding  of  Christ's  King- 
dom. 

Although  most  of  the  contributions  came  from  the  C.  E. 
members,  yet  they  were  not  confined  strictly  to  them. 

It  was  a  surprise  to  me,  when  in  conversation  with  many 
of  the  boys,  during  our  short  time  of  liberty  on  Washing- 
ton's Birthday,  to  find  among  them  such  a  general  feeling 
of  friendliness  and  respect  toward  you,  even  from  those  who 
usually  scoff  at  everything  religious,  and  who  are  thor- 
oughly hardened  in  sin  and  crime. 

I  am  sure  it  will  be  gratifying  to  you  to  know  that  God 
so  blesses  your  efforts  that  even  the  most  hardened  ones 
can  feel  the  influence  of  His  Holy  Spirit  in  your  ministra- 
tions. 

Rest  assured  that  we  shall  always  hold  you  in  kindly 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  469 

remembrance,  and  shall  never  cease  to  pray  that  God's  rich- 
est blessing  may  crown  your  efforts. 

While  our  contribution  is  very  small,  we  know  that  you 
will  receive  it  remembering  only  the  motive  which  prompts 
its  bestowal,  which  is  the  only  method  by  which  the  value  of 
a  gift  can  be  determined. 

With  renewed  expression  of  our  wishes  and  prayers  for 
your  success,  we  are, 

Yours  for  Christ, 
WAUPUN  PRISON  C.  E.  SOCIETY. 

A.  I.  W.,  Cor.  Sec. 

P.  S. — The  enclosed  order  is  sent  in  the  chaplain's  name, 
W.  G.  Bancroft. 


Eddyville,  Ky.,  April  18,  1897. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton. 

My  Dear  Christian  Friend :  It  is  with  pleasure  that  I 
write  you  these  few  lines  to  let  you  know  that  your  visit  to 
Eddyville  was  not  in  vain.  Many  of  my  brothers  here 
express  their  appreciation  of  your  visit.  We  have  some 
earnest  workers  for  the  salvation  of  men  in  this  prison.  We 
are  praying  for  you  that  God  will  strengthen  you  for  His 
work.  We  hope  to  see  you  again  soon,  and  receive  a  mes- 
sage from  Jesus,  for  we  receive  you  as  His  messenger. 

All  my  brothers  send  their  thanks  to  you,  for  they  say 
you  seem  like  a  mother  to  them.  Some  of  us  have  not  seen 
our  mothers  for  thirteen  or  fourteen  years,  and  only  live  in 
hope  of  seeing  them  in  heaven,  when  we  can  lay  down 
these  stripes  and  greet  them  there. 

O  my  dear  Christian  friend,  when  I  think  of  a  wasted  life 
and  how  easy  a  poor  frail  being  like  myself  is  led  off,  it 
almost  crushes  my  heart,  but  thank  God  that  the  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin,  and  that  is  my  only 


47O  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

hope.  T  want  to  meet  you  in  heaven  and,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  I'll  be  there.  We  will  not  be  in  prison  always.  Jesus 
will  come  to  claim  his  children  soon.  Those  who  oppress 
us  now  will  all  have  to  stand  before  that  just  Judge  and 
give  an  account  of  what  they  have  done  to  crush  the  hearts 
of  their  fellowmen.  May  God  forgive  them,  is  my  prayer, 
for  they  know  not  what  they  do. 

I  hope  to  hear  from  you  soon.    May  God  bless  you  in  His 
service.  Your  friend  in  Christ,  L.  P. 


La  ramie,  Wyo.,  May  31,  1897. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton: 

I  got  your  letter  some  time  ago  and  also  the  papers.  Was 
real  glad  to  get  them  and  to  hear  from  you.  I  also  get  the 
paper  regularly,  and  when  we  are  through  reading  it  I  send 
it  to  a  little  boy  in  Montana  that  I  used  to  know.  We  still 
continue  our  Bible  class  and  have  several  new  members. 
We  have  changed  the  time  from  Thursday  until  Sunday, 
on  account  of  some  of  the  boys  who  work  on  the  farm. 

I  got  a  good  letter  from  a  friend  in  Kansas  not  long  ago. 
He  tells  me  that  my  wife  and  little  girls  have  joined  the 
Christian  Church.  The  happiest  days  of  my  life  were  spent 
with  them,  and  if  there  is  one  of  us  four  who  has  to  be  lost 
I  hope  it  may  be  me.  I  want  your  prayers  for  our  Bible 
class  and  that  God  will  make  me  a  better  man;  and  espe- 
cially for  my  wife  and  children  I  want  your  prayers.  It 
will  be  four  years  to-morrow  since  I  have  seen  them. 

Some  of  the  boys  often  speak  of  you,  and  I  can  assure 
you  of  a  welcome  by  us  if  you  ever  come  this  way  again. 
May  God  bless  you  and  sustain  you  in  this  world  for  many 
years  to  come,  is  my  prayer.  The  text  of  the  sermon  we 
heard  to-day  was  John  3*116.  W.  J.  T. 

Luke  15  115. 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  471 

Waupun,  Wis.,  July  4,   1897. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton. 

Madam:  The  privilege  of  writing  is  accorded  me  by  the 
rules  of  this  institution,  and  as  I  have  no  friends  to  whom 
I  write,  I  will  address  this  letter  to  you.  I  have  not  taken 
any  great  interest  in  your  work,  but  have  heard  you  speak 
before  you  visited  this  place  last  February,  and  under  simi- 
lar circumstances. 

All  are  doing  nicely  here  and  are  looking  forward  to  the 
treat  we  shall  get  to-morrow  by  being  allowed  the  liberty 
of  the  yard,  as  we  celebrate  the  Fourth  then. 

The  Christian  Endeavor  Society  is  getting  along  nicely, 
I  guess,  though  I  have  not  been  present  at  their  last  two 
or  three  meetings,  but  some  of  the  boys  seem  to  take  con- 
siderable interest  in  the  work. 

The  front  yard  is  very  pretty.  All  the  flowers  are  in 
bloom  and  nature  seems  to  bless  the  convicts  as  well  as 
those  whose  conduct  permits  them  to  remain  out  in  a  cruel 
world. 

Flower  Mission  Day  was  observed  here  June  2Oth.  Some 
ladies  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  distributed  some  flowers  and 
spoke  in  the  chapel.  Told  us  of  the  sufferings  of  Jennie 
Cassidy  of  Kentucky,  the  originator  of  Flower  Mission  Day, 
invoked  a  divine  blessing  on  us,  and  sent  us  to  our  cells, 
feeling  that  our  lot  was  not  so  bad  as  others  have  had  to 
endure. 

The  prison  is  about  the  same,  six  hundred  males  and  ten 
or  twelve  females ;  some  changes  in  the  discipline ;  the 
lock-step  is  dispensed  with;  we  are  allowed  two  books  a 
week  from  the  library,  and  other  changes  which  lighten  our 
burden. 

Believing  you  will  pardon  this  liberty  I  have  taken,  I 
am,  Most  respectfully,  No.  6965. 


PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

Laramie,  Wyoming,  May,  1898. 
Dear  Mother : 

Mr. requests  me  to  answer  your  kind  and  most  wel- 
come letter.  I  was  thinking  of  you  this  morning,  and  of 
your  mission  on  earth,  and  how  you  had  spent  your  life  in 
the  service  of  the  Lord,  and  in  trying  to  benefit  others.  We 
regard  you  as  the  Good  Samaritan,  and  pray  that  the  Lord 
will  bless  you  in  your  work  wherever  you  may  go.  The 
members  of  the  Bible  class  unite  in  sending  you  their  love 
and  best  regards,  and  will  be  delighted  to  have  you  visit 
us  again.  According  to  nature,  your  earthly  mission  will 
soon  come  to  a  close,  but  your  acts  of  kindness  and  deeds  of 
mercy  will  live  on  forever.  Remember  us  in  your  prayers. 
It  is  written  that  the  prayers  of  the  righteous  avail  much. 
Our  class  has  increased  considerably  since  you  were  here. 
Some  of  the  boys  seem  to  be  very  much  in  earnest  and  sin- 
cerely repent  of  their  past  conduct.  I  hope  to  live  the  re- 
mainder 'of  my  life  in  the  service  of  the  Lord,  and  I  hope 
to  meet  you  in  a  brighter  and  a  better  world,  where  parting 
and  sorrow  are  no  more;  where  our  tears  are  all  wiped 
away,  and  the  light  of  the  Lord  shines  forever. 

Sincerely  yours,  F.  P.  309. 

Eddyville  Prison,  March  17,  1900. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton,  Prison  Evangelist : 

Though  it  has  been  one  year  the  5th  of  February  past 
since  I  heard  your  kind,  sweet,  motherly  voice,  how  glad 
and  proud  I  am  to  see  you  once  again  and  hear  your  kind 
voice,  full  of  a  mother's  pity  for  her  children.  May  God 
bless  you,  mother,  in  your  journey  from  prison  to  prison 
to  teach  fallen  men  that  there  is  a  Jesus  who  loves  them 
and  will  forgive  their  sins  if  they  only  believe  on  Him. 
Thank  God  for  His  Son  He  sent  into  the  world  to  save 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  473 

sinners,  for  Jesus  has  pardoned  all  my  sins,  and  I  mean  to 
serve  God  for  the  remainder  of  my  life. 

You  are  welcome — thrice  welcome.  If  you  did  not  love 
us  you  would  not  come  to  visit  us  each  year  so  faithfully. 
May  God  bless  and  go  with  you  wherever  you  may  be  or  go. 

Though  I  have  only  about  three  weeks  to  serve  here  yet, 
I  thank  God  I  will  leave  a  saved  boy  through  the  blood  of 
Jesus.  Bless  His  holy  name ! 

I  highly  appreciate  your  kind  words  and  the  advice  you 
gave  me.  I  will  take  your  advice. 

I  will  close  by  saying,  "May  God  watch  between  me  and 
thee."  Amen.  My  motto  through  life  is,  "In  God  I  trust." 

I  remain,  Your  son  in  Jesus, 

F.  P.  K.,  Jr. 

Yuma,  Arizona,  May  25,  1903. 
Dear  Sister  Wheaton: 

Our  kind  Superintendent  handed  me  your  letter  of  the 
22d  inst.,  also  the  tracts  you  sent,  which  I  distributed  to 
those  who  I  knew  would  read  and  appreciate  them.  I  also 
showed  your  letter  to  several,  and  intended  reading  it,  or 
having  it  read,  during  church  yesterday  morning,  but  our 
minister  was  late,  so  I  thought  best  to  wait  till  next  Sunday. 
During  the  week  I  will  pass  it  around  to  as  many  as  I  can. 
All  to  whom  I  showed  the  letter  seemed  glad  to  hear  from 
you,  and  requested  me  to  ask  you  to  remember  them  in  your 
prayers,  and  said  to  tell  you  they  hoped  you  would  be  able 
to  visit  the  prison  again  soon. 

I  am  sorry  I  haven't  a  more  favorable  report  of  Christian 
progress  in  the  prison;  but  Satan  seems  to  hold  the  upper 
hand,  and  there  has  been  no  conversion  for  some  time,  and 
there  has  been  quite  a  number  of  Christian  boys  sent  out, 


474  PRISONS    AND   PRAYER 

and  a  great  many  new  men  came  in    of    late,  which  may 
account  for  the  small  attendance  at  services. 

I  hope  the  Lord  will  open  the  way  for  some  good  revival- 
ist to  come  to  Yuma  and  stay  for  a  while  at  least.  This 
place  needs  a  real  stirring  up. 

I  hope  that  the  Lord  will  continue  to  bless  you  in  your 
work  for  Him  among  fallen  men  and  women,  and  that  you 
may  lead  many  to  live  better  lives  and  be  prepared  for 
heaven.  Your  brother  in  Christ, 

R.  C. 


Frankfort,  Ky.,  October  8,   1903. 
Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton,  Prison  Evangelist. 

Dear  Mother  Wheaton :  It  is  a  matter  of  the  deepest 
regret  that  I  am  in  prison,  but  I  am  very  proud  to  have  you 
call  me  one  of  your  boys. 

My  dear  mother  was  named  Elizabeth.  I  was  her  pride 
and  joy,  but  rejoice  to  think  that  my  fall  did  not  occur  until 
after  her  death. 

*  It  would  please  my  sweet  wife  if  you  could  write  her  a 
letter  of  encouragement  and  good  cheer. 

I  hope  that  your  latter  years  may  be  many,  and  am  cer- 
tain they  will  be  rilled  with  the  joy  and  blessedness  which 
come  to  those  who  are  serving  the  Master  in  such  a  noble 
work  as  yours. 

Most  respectfully  yours,  H.  E.  Y. 

Frankfort,  Kentucky,  November  15,  1903. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wheaton,  Tabor,  Iowa. 

My  Dear  Mother  Wheaton :  Your  visit  to  those  who 
were  confined  to  their  beds  in  our  prison  hospital  October 
6th  was  a  great  blessing  to  them.  Your  gospel  hymns  gave 
them  visions  of  angels  singing  the  praises  of  their  Master, 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE 


475 


and  your  prayers  carried  them  before  the  great  white  throne 
for  mercy  and  pardon. 

Prisoners  need  Christianity  more  than  any  other  class 
of  men,  and  when  they  get  the  love  of  God  in  their  hearts 
they  immediately  become  better  prisoners,  are  more  con- 
tented, and  have  more  hope  for  this  life  and  the  life  to 
come. 

Surely  your  work  is  a  noble  one,  and  each  song  and  prayer 


DRUG    DEPARTMENT    IN    PRISON     HOSPITAL. 

for  prisoners  makes  your  heavenly  reward  more  glorious. 
With  many  thanks  for  the  kind  words  spoken  to  me,  I 
remain,  Most  respectfully, 

H.  E.  Y. 


Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  Sept.  2,  1904. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton,  Tabor,  Iowa. 

Dear  Mother  in  Jesus :  I  thought  I  would  address  you  in 
behalf  of  a  Christian  friend  by  the  name  of  J.,  as  he  is  sick. 
He  requested  me  to  write  to  you,  and  as  I  would  like  to  hear 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

• 

from  a  Christian  from  the  outside  world,  he  said  you  would 
answer  my  letter.  I  am  trying  to  live  a  Christian  life. 
When  I  was  almost  ready  to  give  up  and  go  back  to  my 
sinful  life,  there  was  a  bright  light  came  in  my  pathway  to 
refresh  my  soul  and  to  point  out  the  dark  places  wherein  I 
stood.  And  this  light  was  Brother  J.  When  he  talks  to 
any  one  it  is  in  a  loving  way,  and  to  talk  to  him  five  minutes 
one  can  tell  that  he  is  one  of  God's  true  children.  I  enjoy 
greatly  to  hear  him  talk  of  Jesus'  love,  for  it  does  my  soul 
good.  Have  you  any  Christian  papers  and  tracts  that  you 
would  please  send  to  me?  I  would  enjoy  reading  them 
greatly. 

I  am  your  boy,  saved  in  Christ  Jesus. 

GEO.  W.  R. 

Huntsville,  Texas,  Feb.  17,  1905. 
Dear  Mother  Wheaton : 

Yours  to  our  chaplain,  Dr.  M.,  has  just  been  handed  to 
me,  and  it  affords  me  great  pleasure  to  write  you,  for  I 
often  think  of  you,  and  the  good  lady  that  was  here  with 
you,  and  I  knew  :t  would  be  gratifying  to  you  to  know  how 
sincerely  the  boys  appreciate  your  words  of  kindness  and 
Christian  advice  for  their  spiritual  welfare.  I  have  heard 
many  of  them  speak  of  you,  and  it  was  always  with  heart- 
felt wishes  for  your  success  and  happiness.  I  trust  and 
pray  that  many  lost  souls  will  be  brought  to  Christ  through 
your  noble  work  in  the  meeting  you  mention. 
\  Through  reading  the  Christian  Herald  I  have  been  much 
impressed  with  the  need  of  missionary  work  in  India.  And 
I  pray  that  Miss  Grace,  who  was  with  you  here,  will  be 
abundantly  blessed  in  her  undertaking.  I  assure  you  that 
we  will  all  be  glad  to  see  you  at  any  time.  God's  richest 
blessings  upon  you.  I  beg  to  remain, 

Yours  in  Christ,  W.  H.  S. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 
Kind  Words  from  Friends. 

We  give  here  a  few  letters  from  dear  friends  who  have 
been  especially  inte  e^ted  in  the  Master's  work,  some  of 
whom  have  given  me  many  words  of  encouragement,  or 
otherwise  been  helpful  to  me  in  advancing  the  work  of  the 
gospel. 

FROM    H.    L.    H AS  1  INGS    AND    WIFE. 

47  Cornhill  Place,  Boston,  Mass,  January  27,  1886. 
Blessed  Sister: 

Your  card  came  duly.  Glad  to  hear.  Sorry  you  could 
not  call.  Mrs.  Hastings  wanted  to  see  you.  Come  to  our 
house  when  you  will.  If  you  go  to  New  York,  call  on  Miss 
Annie  Delaney,  Fruit  and  Bible  Mission,  416  E.  26th  St., 
New  York,  opposite  the  Bellevue  Hospital — right  in  the 
middle  of  prisons  and  prisoners.  Tell  them  I  sent  you.  Miss 
D.  is  superintendent  and  has  lived  with  us  and  can  open 
doors  there. 

I  was  at  State  Prison  one  night.  Heard  many  good  tes- 
timonies from  yoiy  friends  there.  Surely,  your  labors 
have  been  blessed.  May  the  Lord  direct  your  way  in  all 
these  things,  and  guide  your  endeavors.  How  much  you 
need  the  Heavenly  Father's  guidance.  He  will  guide  you 
with  His  eye.  Pray  that  you  may  know  and  do  His  will, 
and  pray  for  us  that  we  may  please  Him  in  all  things.  Do 
you  need  some  tracts  or  papers?  Let  us  know. 
Yours  in  the  work, 

H.  L.  HASTINGS. 


478  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Goshen,  Mass.,  March  9,  1900. 
My  Dear  Sister: 

I  am  very  glad  indeed  to  hear  from  you,  and  to  know 
that  you  are  still  alive  and  still  at  work. 

It  was  a  great  shock  to  me  when  Mr.  Hastings  left  us. 
But  the  Lord  has  been  very  good  to  me,  and  I  feel  that 
He  means  what  He  says:  "E'en  down  to  old  age  I  will 
never  leave  thee."  "I'll  never,  no,  never,  no,  never  for- 
sake." This  is  a  beautiful  and  a  comforting  thought  to  me 
at  this  time. 

May  God  bless  you,  my  sister,  and  keep  you  in  health  to 
do  His  work,  is  the  prayer  of 

Your  friend, 

MRS.  H.  L.  HASTINGS. 
(Per  E.  B.) 

E.    E.    BYRUM,   AUTHOR  AND   EDITOR. 

September  n,  1903. 

During  the  past  few  years  I  have  been  acquainted  with 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton,  and  known  of  her  earnestness 
and  zeal  in  behalf  of  the  unfortunate  prisoners  of  our  land. 
For  many  years  her  time  has  been  almost  wholly  given  to 
the  work  of  relieving  the  distressed  and  discouraged  in  their 
cells,  and  in  prison  chapels. 

Her  songs  and  words  of  encouragement,  mingled  with 
tears,  have  caused  the  feelings  of  depression  and  sadness 
to  flee  away,  and  those  bowed  down  with  sorrow  to  grasp 
a  ray  of  hope  and  look .  forward  with  renewed  energy  to  a 
higher  life,  trusting  in  Him  who  is  able  to  keep.  Many 
years  of  continued  evangelistic  work  in  the  penitentiaries 
and  prisons  of  America  have  given  her  a  wide  range  of 
experiences  of  prison  life,  a  description  of  which  cannot 
fail  to  be  of  intense  interest  to  every  reader.  It  was  par- 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  479 

tially  due  to  her  untiring  zeal  that  I  was  moved  to  write 
the  book  entitled  "Behind  the  Prison  Bars."  Her  written 
words  will  continue  to  warn  and  comfort  after  her  departure 
from  this  world  to  her  home  beyond  the  cares  of  life. 

E.  E.  BYRUM. 
Moundsville,  W.  Va. 

FROM    MOTHER   OF    PRISONER. 

Chicago,  March  4,  1900. 
Dear  Friend : 

I  was  greatly  surprised  and  glad  to  hear  from  you,  for 
my  son  has  often  spoken  of  you  and  has  regretted  that  the 
quarantine  has  kept  you  away.  I  feel  very  grateful  to  you 
for  taking  an  interest  in  my  dear  boy,  for  he  is  still  very 
dear  to  me. 

You  cannot  imagine  my  feelings  all  these  years,  knowing 
he  was  behind  gloomy  walls.  My  health  has  given  way 
two  or  three  times  on  account  of  it.  Like  so  many  others, 
he  thought  he  knew  best,  and  left  a  good  home  to  go  roving. 
The  cause  of  his  downfall  is  due  to  bad  company,  but  then, 
his  time  is  up  in  October.  I  hope  to  see  him  once  more 
and  keep  him  with  me,  for  I  am  growing  old — am  nearly 
sixty-two. 

I  shall  be  very  glad  to  welcome  you  to  our  home. 

If  you  should  see  my  dear  boy  before  you  come  to  Chi- 
cago, tell  him  I  am  waiting  patiently  until  I  see  him. 

This  letter  hardly  expresses  my  feelings,  but,  sleeping  or 
waking,  my  thoughts  are  nearly  always  with  my  absent 
boy.  Once  more  accept  thanks  from  a  broken-hearted 
mother.  Mrs.  M.  E.  F. 

FROM  A  PRISONER'S  DAUGHTER. 

Denver,  Colo.,  Jan.  7,  1903. 
My  Dear  Mother  Wheaton : 

Praise  God  for  salvation  this  afternoon !     I  am  glad  I 


480  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

found  your  address,  for  I  have  wanted  to  write  to  you  for  a 
long  time  and  tell  you  the  result  of  your  visit  to  R.  State 
Prison,  where  you  talked  with  my  precious  father. 

He  wrote  me  soon  after  you  left  and  said  you  left  him 
under  awful  conviction.  He  confessed  and  forsook  his 
sins  and  is  now  a  man  saved  by  the  blood  that  was  shed 
on  the  cross  for  him.  He  said  that  he  was  restless  from 
the  time  you  left  until  he  found  Jesus.  He  told  how  you 
and  a  young  lady  talked  and  prayed  with  him,  and  how, 
after  he  retired,  he  rolled  and  tossed  in  awful  agony  until 
about  eleven  o'clock,  when  he  cried  to  God  for  mercy.  God 
heard  his  cries  and  came  to  his  release.  O  hallelujah!  It 
just  makes  me  shout  to  read  his  letters  now.  I  can  tell 
by  them  that  he  is  really  resting  in  Jesus.  He  before  sel- 
dom wrote  more  than  two  pages,  and  now  he  writes  from 
fifteen  to  twenty-four.  And  oh,  such  letters!  I  just  can't 
help  but  cry  for  joy  when  I  read  them  and  realize  that  my 
precious  papa  is  serving  the  only  true  and  living  God.  I 
give  God  the  glory  and  all  of  the  honor  for  what  has  been 
done;  and  I  praise  God  for  using  you  as  an  instrument 
through  whom  He  worked  Eternity  alone  can  reveal  the 
result. 

My  heart  is  full  of  praises  to  Jesus  my  King  this  even- 
ing. He  has  done  so  much  for  me  lately.  He  blesses  me 
in  soul  and  body  and  supplies  all  my  needs. 

I  may  go  to  C  soon  and  try  to  do  something  for  my 
father.  Pray  that  God  may  lead  me  and  that  the  devil 
may  not  hinder  in  any  way,  if  God  sees  fit  to  release  papa 
from  prison.  I  am  perfectly  resigned  to  God's  will. 

Your  sister  for  Jesus,  M.  H. 

(This  daughter  was  a  successful  Christian  worker.) 


~^  OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  481 

FROM  AN  EDITOR. 

Ashburn,  Ga.,  May  12,  1897. 
Dear  Sister: 

Grace  and  peace  be  multiplied  to  you.  I  received  your 
letter  and  communication  for  "Holiness  Advocate,"  which 
will  appear  in  the  next  issue.  Always  let  me  know  where 
to  find  you.  I  would  have  written  sooner,  but  have  been 
away  to  Macon,  where  I  saw  Sister  Perry.  She  has  been 
here  and  visited  the  convict  camps  since  you  were  here. 
I  have  been  visiting  those  camps  pretty  regularly  since  you 
left  here.  You  put  it  on  me  and  I  am  trying  to  be  faithful. 
You  asked  me  in  your  letter  if  you  knew  me.  Yes,  I  met 
you  here.  It  was  in  front  of  my  store.  You  held  the  street 
service  here  at  Ashburn,  while  waiting  for  the  train,  and 
I  was  with  you  until  the  train  left.  Well,  sister,  I  wilt 
never  get  done  praising  God  for  ever  meeting  you.  It 
marked  a  new  epoch  in  my  experience.  I  want  you  to  take 
my  paper  on  your  heart.  Ask  the  Holy  Spirit  to  run  it  for 
me  and  the  Father  to  supply  financial  help.  I  am  trusting 
Him  for  it.  How  glad  the  prisoners  in  the  camp  will  be 
to  hear  from  you  in  this  way.  I  will  send  up  to  both  the 
camps  a  bundle  of  the  issue  containing  your  letter.  I  want 
you  all  to  pray  for  the  South,  that  a  deeper  work  may  be 
done  in  the  hearts  of  the  Holiness  people;  that  the  mis- 
sionary spirit  may  get  hold  of  us  so  that  we  will  send  out 
our  sons  and  daughters  to  tell  of  Jesus'  love  to  a  perishing, 
dying  world. 

May  the  Lord  bless  you  and  use  you  in  the  future  even 
more  powerfully  than  in  the  past.  Come  and  see  us  when 
you  can. 

Yours,  bound  for  Heaven, 

J.  LAWRENCE, 
Ed.  Holiness  Advocate. 


482  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Ashburn,  Ga.,  August  25,  1898. 
Dear  Sister  Wheaton: 

Your  letter  came  to  us  all  right,  and  you  have  no  idea 
what  gladness  it  brings  to  us  all  to  hear  from  you,  and 
yet  conviction.  For  it  certainly  convicts  us  for  the  little  we 
are  doing  when  we  see  how  the  Lord  is  enabling  you  to  put 
in  full  time.  Pray  for  me  that  I  may  be  more  zealous. 
Things  are  taking  a  deeper  move  in  the  South.  A  great 
number  of  the  Holiness  people  are  getting  down  for  a  real 
experience.  We  have  been  satisfied  long  enough  with  a 
profession.  So  you  may  expect  something  from  the  South 
in  the  near  future.  Men  and  women  giving  themselves  for 
the  foreign  field  and  for  the  home  field,  working  in  the  slums 
and  in  the  prisons  and  wherever  God  may  lead  them.  Love 
to  all  the  saints  at  Tabor.  I  have  never  met  any  of  them, 
but  I  do  love  them  and  the  work  they  are  doing.  "Blessed 
be  the  tie  that  binds." 

God  bless  you,  and  may  you  be  preserved  blameless  unto 
His  coming. 

Yours  in  Jesus'  love, 

J.  LAWRENCE. 

FROM  AN  EX-PRISONER. 

Sioux  City,  la.,  Jan.  31,  1901. 

Mrs.  Wheaton :  I  don't  suppose  you  will  remember  me, 
but  possibly  you  may,  as  I  think  I  was  one  of  the  most 
wretched  in  or  out  of  prison  at  that  time.  It  was  at  Sioux 
Falls,  So.  Dak.,  between  three  and  four  years  ago,  if  I  re- 
member correctly.  You  visited  the  prison  and  spoke  to  us 
in  chapel,  and  later  in  the  day  you  and  a  lady  with  you, 
came  around  to  the  cells.  I  was  in  cell  No.  13.  You  shook 
hands  with  me  and  asked,  "Are  you  a  Christian?"  I  re- 
plied, "No."  Again  you  asked,  "Have  you  ever  been  one?" 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  483 

"No."  "Will  you  meet  me  in  Heaven?"  you  asked  again, 
and  I  answered,  "I  will  try  to."  You  spoke  only  a  few 
words,  saying,  "Do  not  be  discouraged."  These  few  words 
and  that  warm  hand-shake  helped  me  very  much.  I  was 
indeed  much  discouraged.  Life  seemed  dark  indeed.  I 
was  serving  an  eleven  years'  sentence.  I  was  under  deep 
conviction  of  sin.  Not  long  after  that  the  blessed  Christ 
came  into  my  heart.  I  believed  on  His  name  and  He  saved 
my  soul.  Two  years  ago  last  August  I  was  pardoned  from 
the  prison.  The  I7th  of  last  March  I  became  Superintend- 
ent of  a  Rescue  Mission  in  Dakota,  and  for  ten  months  or 
nearly  that  I  was  there  and  the  Lord  blessed  our  efforts  by 
saving  souls.  I  am  now  married.  My  wife  was  converted 
in  the  mission  last  June.  She  is  an  accomplished  musician 
and  singer  and,  the  Lord  being  willing,  we  expect  to  go 
out  and  preach  the  gospel  among  railroad  men  in  the  near 
future. 

I  have  often  thought  of  you  and  your  labor  of  love  among 
prisoners.  May  God  bless  and  encourage  you  in  the  work, 
is  my  earnest  prayer.  I  heard  that  you  were  in  Sioux  Falls 
at  the  prison  a  short  time  ago.  I  did  not  know  it  in  time 
to  see  you.  If  the  prisoners  only  knew  what  joy  and  peace 
there  is  in  the  service  of  Jesus,  it  seems  to  me  they  would 
yield  their  hearts  to  Him.  Again  I  wish  you  godspeed  in 
your  work.  May  you  have  many  precious  jewels  for  the 
Master's  crown.  To  Him  belong  the  praise  and  glory. 

Good-bye,  and  God  bless  you  and  the  sister  that  was  with 
you.    Never  be  discouraged.    Jesus  loves  and  uses  you. 
Yours,  in  His  service,  T.  F.  M. 


Sioux  Falls,  S.  Dak.,  Feb.  9,  1904. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton. 
Dear   Sister:     Your   card   of   November   was   received. 


484  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

Hope  you  will  pardon  me  for  not  writing  before.  I  am  glad 
that  you  are  still  trusting  Jesus,  and  working  in  His  vine- 
yard. May  God  bless,  comfort,  strengthen  and  keep  you. 

Jesus  is  coming  again,  perhaps  soon.  It  may  be  that  we 
shall  be  alive  when  He  comes.  If  so  we  shall  be  caught  up 
together  with  the  dead  in  Christ  to  meet  Him  in  the  air, 
so  shall  we  ever  be  with  Him,  Blessed  be  His  name 
(I  Thess.  4-17.)  I  want  to  exalt  Him.  I  want  my  daily  life 
to  be  a  testimony  of  His  power  to  save  and  to  keep.  Many 
years  of  my  life  were  spent  in  sin.  Finally  I  was  tried,  con- 
victed and  sentenced  to  state's  prison  for  a  long  term  of 
years.  God  says :  "Whatsoever  a  man  soweth  that  shall 
he  also  reap,  for  He  that  soweth  to  his  flesh  shall  of  the 
flesh  reap  corruption,  but  he  that  soweth  to  the  Spirit  shall 
of  the  Spirit  reap  life  everlasting."  (Galatians  6:7,  8.) 
God's  word  is  true. 

I  found  my  mind  giving  away  and  my  body  a  physical 
wreck.  I  read  the  Bible  and  God  showed  me  that  I  was 
a  lost  man.  I  tried  to  destroy  my  life,  but  God  in  his  love 
and  mercy  would  not  permit  it.  I  was  in  great  darkness. 
I  said  to  a  friend,  there  is  no  hope  for  me  in  this  life  or 
the  life  to  come,  but  I  did  not  know  Jesus  Christ  nor  His 
saving  power.  God  sent  His  ministers  each  Sunday  morn- 
ing to  preach  the  blessed  gospel,  and  one  Sunday  morning 
He  sent  "Mother  Wheaton"  to  us.  In  the  afternoon,  I  be- 
lieve it  was,  she  visited  us  in  our  cells.  I  had  quarreled  with 
my  cell-mate,  and  he  had  left  me.  Mrs.  Wheaton  came  and 
shook  hands  with  me,  and  asked  if  I  was  a  Christian.  I 
said,  "No."  Again  she  asked,  "Have  you  ever  been  a  Chris- 
tian?" I  replied,  "No."  She  said,  "Will  you  meet  me  in 
Heaven?"  I  said,  "I  will  try."  With  a  warm  hand-shake 
and  a  few  words  of  encouragement,  she  left  me.  God 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  485 

helped  me  to  believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  there  came  into 
my  life  joy  and  peace  such  as  I  had  never,  known  before, 
even  in  my  best  days  on  the  outside. 

After  my  conversion  I  asked  God  if  it  was  His  will  that 
I  might  be  pardoned  out.  He  also  heard  and  answered  that 
prayer.  God  is  love.  He  loves  the  vilest  sinner.  To-day 
I  have  a  loving  Christian  wife  and  two  lovely  children. 
I  have  no  desire  for  the  old  life  of  drinking,  gambling,  etc., 
but  my  desire  is  to  love  and  serve  God  and  help  my  fellow- 
men  to  find  Jesus,  who  is  mighty  to  save  and  to  keep.  To 
Jesus  belongs  all  praise  and  glory.  If  it  is  his  will,  may 
He  use  this  testimony  to  bring  souls  to  Himself.  T.  F.  M. 


4064  Washington  Avenue,  St.  Louis,  Mo., 

October  25,  1899. 
My  Dear  Mrs.  Wheaton : 

I  thank  you  so  much  for  your  letter.  I  was  greatly 
pleased  in  reading  it.  I  will  be  so  glad  to  see  you  when 
you  come.  I  realize,  as  you  say,  that  I  have  never  fully  let 
go  of  myself  in  the  Master's  work,  but  I  have  given  my  life 
to  Him,  and  if  I  know  my  own  heart,  I  am  willing  to  be 
and  do  anything  He  shall  choose  for  me.  I  love  to  help 
lost  ones,  and  if  the  Lord  should  use  me  as  He  does  you,  I 
believe  I  should  be  the  happiest  person  in  the  world.  Do 
pray  for  me,  won't  you,  that  the  Lord  may  lead  me  into 
all  His  will?  Time  is  flying,  and  soon  all  of  our  opportuni- 
ties will  be  over  and  our  Lord  will  take  us  to  Himself. 
Pray  that  the  Lord  will  keep  me  busy  serving  Him.  I  love 
you  and  pray  for  you.  May  you  be  kept  rejoicing  in  hope 
even  though  you  see  nothing  but  sin  and  sorrow  around 
you.  (Psalm  125:5,  6.) 

Lovingly  yours, 

TULA  D.  ELY. 


486  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Sapphire,  N.  C,  August  15,  1901. 
My  Dear  Sister: 

I  received  your  letter  to-day.  I  have  been  thinking  about 
you  and  praying  for  you  often,  and  see  by  your  letter  that 
God  has  made  all  of  your  trials  a  blessing  to  you  and  know 
that  God  can  make  up  for  any  loss  He  lets  us  have.  What 
a  hard  time  you  did  have,  dear  sister.  I  praise  God  for 
bringing  you  through  it  with  such  joy.  Sometimes  it  seems 
true  He  does  with  us  like  He  did  with  Job — just  tells  Satan 
he  may  do  everything  but  take  our  lives,  and  when  our  self- 
justification  and  friends  are  gone,  He  joins  us  in  with  Him- 
self and  makes  us  powerful  in  His  own  power.  He  knows 
whether  we  want  Him,  and  if  we  do  we  will  be  taken 
through  death  to  self  and  put  to  hard  tests.  It  seems  some- 
times as  if  He  hides  His  face  to  let  us  suffer  and  say, 
"Though  He  slay  me  yet  will  I  trust  Him."  I  am  glad  you 
are  with  the  people  who  hold  you  up  in  prayer.  We  need 
one  another's  prayers  in  these  times  when  Satan  has  so 
many  snares.  Tula  is  well.  She  and  Mildred  send  love. 
Affectionately  and  in  Jesus,  love, 

CLARA  D.  ELY. 

S ,  Colo.,  June  24,  1903. 

.Dear  Mother  in  Christ: 

May  this  find  you  well  and  happy  in  the  Lord  Jesus. 
We  have  not  forgotten  you  and  we  never  shall.  Our  gospel 
tent  meeting  at  P.  was  a  blessed  time.  Souls  were  saved 
and  sanctified.  We  give  all  the  glory  to  Jesus.  We  are 
holding  meetings  here  in  our  tent.  The  Lord  is  blessing 
the  preaching  of  His  Word.  The  Lord  willing,  we  will 
begin  a  meeting  at  Raton,  New  Mexico,  the  2nd  of  August. 
We  would  like  to  have  you  with  us  if  it  were  the  Lord's 
will.  The  Lord  is  helping  us  while  we  are  here  to  open 


OR  A   LABOR  OF   LOVE  487 

a  home  for  poor  girls.  We  have  rented  a  five-room  house 
and  He  is  giving  us  everything  we  need  for  the  home. 
Glory  to  God  for  all  things! 

My  brother  H.  is  with  us  in  the  gospel  work.  God  is 
blessing  him  in  singing  the  gospel.  Remember  us  all  in 
prayer.  May  the  Lord  give  you  many  souls  in  your  work. 
We  both  send  love  to  you. 

Your  children, 

J.  E.  AND  WIFE. 

The  above  is  of  especial  interest  to  me  though  the  reader  may 
have  to  rea.l  between  the  lines,  as  it  were,  to  understand  why  it  is 
so.  The  writers  are  faithful  and  efficient  workers  in  the  Master's 
cause. 

A  TESTIMONIAL. 

Columbia,  South  Carolina. 
To  Christian  Women : 

Dear  Sisters :  We  have  long  known  the  bearer,  Mrs.  E. 
R.  Wheaton,  and  can  testify  as  to  her  arduous  labors  for 
the  most  needy  classes.  It  was  our  privilege  to  have  her  in 
our  Home  for  one  week  and  we  certainly  received  the  Lord's 
blessing  during  that  time.  We  are  working  for  Christ,  but 
her  labors  are  more  abundant,  her  trials  far  greater.  As  she 
goes  forth  without  commission  or  salary  she  must  depend 
entirely  upon  God.  He  usually  supplies  her  through  His 
people.  Few  of  us  could  work  where  and  as  she  does,  but 
we  may  lovingly  minister  to  her  necessity  and  the  dear 
Lord  will  surely  bless  in  so  doing.  Yours  in  Christ, 

MARIA  JONES, 
ELLA  F.  BRAIN ARD. 

The  writer  of  the  following  sketch  was  an  orphan  girl  making  her 
home,  when  I  first  met  her,  with  some  of  my  relatives  in  Iowa.  She 
was  raised  by  her  aunt  and  was  kept  in  school  and  in  society  till 
she  was  grown.  Having  been  converted  at  the  age  of  twelve  years 
and  engaging  some  in  Christian  work,  soon  after  my  first  acquaint- 


488  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

ance  with  her  she  received  a  call  from  God  to  devote  her  life  wholly 
to  His  service.  Being  an  orphan  the  Lord  gave  me  a  mother  'a  love 
and  care  for  her.  She  went  with  me  to  the  Missionary  Training 
Home  at  Tabor,  from  whence  she  went  as  a  missionary  to  India. 
While  at  the  Home  she  was  faithful  in  caring  for  orphan  children, 
etc.,  and  traveled  with  me  some,  staying  at  one  time  several  months 
as  a  worker  in  a  rescue  home  in  Chicago,  and  later  spending  some 
time  in  evangelistic  work.  I  have  elsewhere  mentioned  her  trip  with 
me  to  the  Pacific  coast  on  her  way  to  India. 

It  was  my  privilege  in  the  fall  of  1903  to  travel  with 
Mother  Wheaton  in  Gospel  work  in  prisons,  jails,  missions, 
churches,  etc.  God  made  her  a  blessing  to  many  souls  who 
needed  a  mother's  love  and  sympathy.  She  always  lifts  up 
Jesus,  that  souls  might  be  drawn  unto  Him  and  be  saved. 
We  first  visited  the  Reformatory  for  Girls  at  Mitchelville, 
Iowa.  We  were  kindly  receh  ed  by  the  Superintendent  who 
had  been  a  friend  of  Mother  Wheaton's  for  several  years. 
He  gave  her  the  privilege  of  holding  services  in  the  chapel 
with  the  several  hundred  girls.  She  also  visited  the  girls 
in  their  cottages,  singing,  praying  and  talking  with  them. 

We  then  visited  the  prisons  at  the  following  places: 
Moundsville,  W.  Va. ;  Baltimore,  Md. ;  Allegheny,  Pa. ; 
Columbus,  Ohio ;  Waupun,  Wis. ;  Stillwater,  Minn. ;  Frank- 
fort, Ky. ;  Nashville  and  Brushy  Mountain,  Tenn. 

In  the  hospital  of  the  prison  at  Waupun  we  visited  Mr. 
Colgrove,  a  prisoner  who  was  converted  fifteen  years  pre- 
viously when  Mother  Wheaton  was  holding  a  service  in  the 
prison.  He  was  a  life  prisoner  but  he  yielded  to  the  con- 
viction of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  was  saved.  During  these 
years  he  proved  by  his  daily  walk  that  he  was  a  Christian. 
He  often  conducted  the  devotional  exercises,  and  he  had 
taught  three  Bible  classes,  two  in  German  and  one  in 
English,  until  his  health  failed.  As  I  bade  him  goodbye  he 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  489 

said,  "I  will  meet  you  in  the  better  world  if  I  never  meet 
you  here  again."  He  was  in  poor  health  and  a  few  months 
later  died  a  triumphant  death. 

The  prison  physicians  gave  permission  to  visit  the  sick, 
for  they  know  the  words  of  comfort  and  songs  of  cheer  by 
Mother  Wheaton  will  give  them  encouragement  and  a  de- 
sire to  live  for  the  better  world. 

In  a  Gospel  Mission  I  heard  an  ex-convict  testify  to  how 
God  had  saved  him  from  a  life  of  sin.  He  said  that  he 
knew  ''Mother  Wheaton"  but  perhaps  she  did  not  know 
him  dressed  as  he  was;  for  when  she  had  met  him  before 
he  was  behind  prison  bars.  He  praised  God  for  such  a 
person  who  was  willing  to  work  among  that  class  of  peo- 
ple. I  am  sure  there  is  much  good  accomplished  in  the 
prisons  for  individuals  as  Mother  Wheaton  stands  at  the 
door  after  services  and  shakes  hands  with  the  hundreds 
of  prisoners  as  they  pass  out.  Her  "God  bless  you"  is 
not  soon  forgotten.  When  her  work  is  ended  and  the  re- 
wards of  the  righteous  are  given,  many  will  arise  and  call 
her  blessed.  GRACE  YARRETT. 


MOTHER   WHEATON. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 
Sketches  from  Press  Reports. 

My  call  being  not  only  to  the  prison  bound  but  to  every 
creature,  the  newspaper  men  have  received  their  part  of 
the  Gospel  message  and  were  often  instrumental  in  herald- 
ing some  truth  to  their  readers  whom  I  have  been  unable 
to  reach  in  person.  I  have  often  been  interviewed  by  re- 
porters regarding  my  work  for  the  Master  and  they  fre- 
quently give  accounts  of  meetings  held  in  the  prisons,  on 
the  streets,  etc.,  very  correctly,  though  sometimes  in  a  hu- 
morous style  and  from  that  standpoint  of  the  onlookers  or 
the  prisoners.  In  this  chapter  I  give  a  few  sketches  from 
reports  of  my  work  clipped  from  the  papers. 

A  LABOR  OF  LOVE. 

A    WOMAN    WHO    LEFT    A    LUXURIOUS    HOME    TO    SERVE    THE 
UNFORTUNATE. 

MRS.    WHEATON    AMONG    THE    CRIMINALS    AT    THE    PENITEN- 
TIARY. 

SHE    VISITS    THE     HOSPITALS,     JAIL    AND     WORK-HOUSE AF- 
FECTING   SCENES     WHILE    SHE     PREACHED. 

A  white-haird  lady,  clad  in  deep  mourning,  carrying  a 
volume  bound  in  morocco,  visited  the  penitentiary  yester- 
day. This  was  Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton.  In  a  few  minutes  she 
was  delivering  a  sermon  to  the  convicts.  She  is  a  remark- 
able woman.  Four  years  ago  she  left  a  luxurious  home  in 
Ohio  to  preach  the  gospel  to  convicts,  and  since  then  has 
exhorted  in  the  penitentiaries  of  thirty-seven  States.  She 
visits  hospitals  and  the  abodes  of  fallen  women,  also,  and 
has  ministered  to  the  wants  of  thousands  of  unfortunates. 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

An  American  reporter  asked  her  how  she  happened  to  be 
engaged  in  the  work. 

"No  member  of  my  family  was  ever  in  a  prison  or  afflicted 
as  are  those  to  whom  I  speak,"  she  exclaimed;  "my  evan- 
gelical work  did  not  originate  in  any  morbid  sympathy  be- 
cause of  personal  bereavement.  I  simply  felt  called  of 
God  to  preach  his  word  to  the  people,  and  have  entered  upon 
it  for  the  remainder  of  my  life.  My  heart  and  soul  are  in 
it,  and  though  I  am  far  from  my  dear  ones  I  am  happy." 

She  had  been  speaking  to  the  convicts  but  a  few  minutes 
when  the  effect  of  her  words  of  exhortation  was  visible. 
At  first  the  majority  were  listless,  but  as  she  warmed  to  her 
cause  they  responded  with  closer  attention  and  in  fifteen 
minutes  every  eye  was  fixed  intently  upon  the  gentle,  earnest 
woman,  who  sought  to  save  their  souls  and  bring  a  divine 
light  to  their  benighted  lives.  When  she  closed  her  dis- 
course and  asked  if  any  desired  her  prayers  twenty  hardened 
men  of  crime,  with  tears  in  their  eyes,  raised  their  hands 
and  three  advanced  to  the  mourners'  seat.  With  these  she 
prayed  and  every  word  was  fraught  with  all  the  potent 
power  with  which  the  voice  of  woman  in  prayer  is  capable. 
The  three  unfortunates  were  moved  as  men  seldom  are  and 
at  the  close  of  the  meeting  professed  conversion. 

Mrs.  Wheaton  then  visited  the  hospital,  department  of  the 
penitentiary,  after  which  she  went  to  the  jail,  work-house 
and  city  hospital  and  at  each  place  delivered  a  discourse. 
To-day  she  will  see  fallen  women. — Nashville  American, 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  1887. 

A  PRISON  EVANGELIST. 

ELIZABETH    R.    WHEATON    TALKS   AT   THE    COUNTY   JAIL. 

Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton,  the  celebrated  prison  evangelist, 
visited  the  Buchanan  county  jail  yesterday,  and  conducted 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  493 

a  religious  service  of  forty  minutes'  length.  The  evangelist 
pointed  out  the  errors  of  her  hearers  and  advised  them  to 
make  early  amends.  The  evangelist  assured  the  audience 
that  all  they  needed  to  be  saved  was  faith.  Wife  murderer 
Bulling  was  one  of  the  evangelist's  most  attentive  hearers, 
and  the  horse  thieves,  burglars  and  other  criminals  were 
among  her  closest  listeners.  Sheriff  Spratt  thinks  much 
good  will  result  from  Evangelist  Wheaton's  visit  to  the 
bastile. — St.  Joe,  Mo.,  paper,  Aug.  8,  1889. 
PRISON  EVANGELIST. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton,  prison  evangelist,  held 
services  in  the  county  jail  this  afternoon,  lecturing  and  sing- 
ing to  the  eleven  prisoners  there.  She  told  in  few  words  and 
four  songs  the  whole  plan  of  salvation,  and  it  didn't  take 
her  but  twenty  minutes  to  do  it.  She  talked  a  little  while 
and  sang  "I  Will  Tell  the  Wondrous  Story,"  following  with 
a  few  words  of  comment  her  rich  contralto  voice  burst  into 
"You  Must  Be  Born  Again,"  followed  in  the  same  way. 
Then  "It  Pays  to  Serve  the  Lord,"  and  "Parting  to  Meet  no 
More,"  closing  with  a  short  prayer.  These  songs  coming  in 
the  order  they  do,  tell  the  whole  story  and  make  a  very 
pretty  one. — Unidentified. 

EVANGELISTIC  SERVICE  AT  PRISON. 

Elizabeth  Wheaton,  a  noble  Christian  woman  who  has 
consecrated  her  life  to  work  in  prisons,  jails,  reformatories, 
houses  of  correction,  houses  of  refuge  and  hospitals,  visited 
our  city  Saturday,  and  after  presenting  her  credentials  was 
given  hearty  permission  to  hold  services  at  the  prison  on 
Sunday,  Father  Murphy,  the  Catholic  chaplain,  whose  day 
it  was  to  officiate,  kindly  consenting  to  this  arrangement. 
Her  manner  would  probably  not  be  agreeable  to  an  aesthetic 
Christian  audience  in  a  fashionable,  upholstered  church, 


494  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

but  she  knows  how  to  reach  the  hearts  of  the  men  and  boys 
who  wear  the  stripes,  one  of  the  prisoners,  a  Catholic,  who 
has  been  behind  the  bars  for  almost  seventeen  years,  remark- 
ing that  this  was  the  best  service  they  had  had  there  during 
his  long  term  of  imprisonment.  No  one,  be  he  Christian 
or  pagan,  could  have  listened  to  the  service  at  the  prison 
chapel  last  Sunday  without  being  convinced  that  there  was 
an  opening  for  unselfish  work  among  prisoners  and  that 
this  lady  was  pre-eminently  fitted  for  such  work.  There  is 
no  mawkish  sentimentality  about  her,  but  an  all  absorbing 
zeal  in  the  work  of  leading  the  criminals,  the  erring,  the 
lowly,  the  sick  and  the  afflicted  to  Christ  and  a  better  life. 
It  is  doubtful  if  there  is  an  ordained  minister  in  the  land 
who  can  do  as  much  good  in  this  field  as  this  plain,  unpre- 
tentious, but  thoroughly  consecrated  woman.  She  has 
now  been  nearly  five  years  in  this  work,  and  has  visited 
nearly  every  .prison  in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  a  few 
in  Mexico,  and  also  the  jails,  reformatories,  houses  of 
refuge  and  hospitals  in  all  the  prominent  cities  through 
which  she  has  passed.  She  has  traveled  almost  100,- 
ooo  miles  and  has  never  met  with  an  accident.  Wher- 
ever she  goes  she  is  kindly  received,  non-Christians  in 
fact  treat  her  better  than  those  whose  sympathy  and  co- 
operation she  has  a  right  to  expect.  Thus  does  the  world 
ever  recognize  and  honor  earnest,  conscientious  and  capable 
laborers  in  the  cause  of  God  and  humanity.  She  never 
allows  a  collection  to  be  taken  up  in  her  behalf,  though  fre- 
quently invited  to  speak  in  churches,  but  accepts  such  offer- 
ings as  may  come  without  solicitation.  Last  Sunday,  while 
she  and  the  citizens  in  the  audience  were  retiring  from  the 
chapel,  a  Swedish  servant  girl,  whose  name  is  unknown  to 
the  writer,  took  from  her  scanty  purse  a  silver  dollar  and 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  495 

gave  it  to  Mrs.  Wheaton.  If  the  lesson  of  the  story  of  the 
widow's  mite  be  true  this  humble  girl's  gift  was  greater 
than  that  of  the  millionaire  who  gives  thousands  of  dollars 
toward, tfce. ..ejection  of  a  magnificent  church  edifice.  — Still- 
water,  Minn.,  Messenger,-  Oct.  27,  1888. 

MRS.  WHEATON 's  ELOQUENCE. 

CAUSES  A  SUFFERING  WIFE  TO  FORGET  HER  BRUISES  AND  FOR- 
GIVE HER  CRUEL  HUSBAND. 

The  case  of  Henry  Cooper  was  brought  up  before  'Squire 
F.  yesterday  afternoon  at  2  o'clock. 

Catharine  Cooper  stated  that  her  husband  had  beat  her 
brutally  on  last  Saturday  afternoon  and  that  this  was  not 
the  first  ill  treatment  she  had  received  at  his  hands. 

The  court  room  was  converted  into  a  prayer  meeting  and 
Mrs  Wheaton's  prayers  presented  an  affecting  scene ;  be- 
fore the  trial  was  ended  Mrs.  Cooper  asked  to  withdraw  her 
prosecution  and  was  willing  to  forgive  her  cruel  husband. 
'Squire  F.  ordered  the  prisoner  to  be  taken  to  the  work- 
house to  work  out  the  cost  of  the  suit. — Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
paper. 

FROM  A  PRISONER  IN  THE  PRATT  MINES  STOCKADE,  ALABAMA. 

To  the  Chronicle : 

Supposing  a  line  or  two  from  our  prison,  its  surround- 
ings, happenings,  etc.,  would  be  acceptable,  prompts  me  to 
drop  you  this. 

The  monotony  of  prison  life  is  such  that  hardly  anything 
transpires,  that  would  command  the  notice  of  a  news  re- 
porter, or  draw  an  article  from  a  newspaper  correspondent. 
But,  Mr.  Editor,  we  had  something  to  take  place  here  last 
night  that  beats  anything  we  ever  saw  or  heard  of. 

About  the  time  all  the  convicts  had  finished  eating  the 
evening  meal,  Captain  P.  J.  Rogers  announced  that  all 


49-6  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

should  remain  seated  awhile,  to  hear  preaching.  Now  to 
hear  preaching  is  no  uncommon  occurrence  here,  Brother 
Rush  preaches  regularly  for  us,  and  occasionally  other  min- 
isters deliver  discourses  upon  the  importance  of  living  the 
life  of  a  Christian,  so  when  Capt.  R.  announced  that  we 
were  about  to  have  preaching,  no  one  experienced  much 
motion  of  spirit.  The  minds  of  those  who  gave  the  matter 
any  thought  were  picturing  in  expectation,  a  man,  perhaps 
baldheaded,  clad  in  a  long  priestly  robe  with  Bible  and 
Hymn-book  in  hand,  and  of  a  solemn,  or  sanctimonious 
countenance,  others,  perhaps,  drew  a  different  man  in  ap- 
pearance, but  none  had  drawn  the  picture  correctly. 

Imagine  our  surprise  when  instead  of  a  man,  a  woman  of 
mature  age,  clad  in  the  usual  mourning  apparel  worn  by 
the  ladies,  armed  with  Bible  and  Hymn-book,  mounted  the 
rostrum,  and  announced  that  she  was  going  to  preach  to  us. 
This  announcement  at  once  produced  the  most  profound 
and  reverential  silence  imaginable — every  eye  was  at  once 
riveted  upon  the  face  of  the  fair  preacher,  whose  counte- 
nance wore  a  pleasant  smile  and  indicated  an  affectionate 
and  amiable  disposition,  and  complete  surprise  or  amaze- 
ment was  vivid  upon  the  countenance  of  her  entire  audience. 
The  discourse  was  one  worthy  of  the  attention  of  all  who 
heard  it — the  sufferings  of  Jesus  in  and  around  Jerusalem — 
His  temptation  and  trial  of  toil  and  misery — His  holy  life 
— His  triumphant  death  and  resurrection — His  grand  ascen- 
sion to  the  realms  of  the  blessed,  were  eloquently  delineated. 
The  certainty  of  death — the  shortness  of  life — the  never 
ending  of  the  life  beyond  the  grave  were  theories  eagerly 
pressed  for  reception  upon  the  minds  of  her  hearers.  Tak- 
ing all  in  all,  the  discourse  was  well  delivered  and  spiced 
with  enough  enthusiasm  to  produce  good  effect.  But,  Mr. 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  497 

Editor,  the  idea  of  a  woman  canvassing  the  world  in  behalf 
of  the  church  is  simply  an  incident  so  unusual  that  quite  a 
number  of  us  here  eagerly  inquire,  what  has  become  of  the 
men?  *  *  *  * 

Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton,  for  such  is  the  name  of  our  dis- 
tinguished visitor,  related  among  other  things,  that  she  was 
called  and  led  by  the  God  of  Glory  to  go  all  over  the  world 
and  preach  the  gospel  to  the  lost  children  of  men,  that  the 
prisons,  saloons,  dens  of  sin  and  pollution  were  the  places 
of  her  special  care.  The  huts  of  the  poor  and  outcast  were 
by  her  to  be  visited  and  that  she  did  not  ask  for  money, 
that  her  Master  had  promised  to  provide  all  things  tor  her 
and  did  so  dafly. 

SAW  MOTHER  WHEATON. 

THE  NOTED  PRISON  EVANGELIST  VISITED  THE  COUNT\   J  AIL 
PRISONERS  TODAY. 

A  kindly  faced,  white-haired  old  lady  walked  into  the 
county  jail  this  morning  and  asked  permission  to  address 
the  prisoners.  She  was  "Mother"  Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton, 
the  prison  evangelist,  who  is  known  from  coast  to  coast. 
As  soon  as  her  identity  was  made  known  Turnkey  Reynolds 
and  his  corps  of  assistants  did  their  utmost  to  assist  the 
generous  old  lady.  She  was  shown  through  the  building, 
and  then  allowed  to  enter  each  ward. 

From  ii  o'clock  until  long  after  the  noon  hour  she  re- 
mained with  the  unfortunates,  visiting  them  separately  and 
then  preaching  to  all.  Tears  were  in  the  eyes  of  many  of 
these  hardened  criminals  before  she  had  finished. 

"Mother"  Wheaton  was  met  at  the  jail  entrance  and 
asked  to  explain  her  system  of  working.  "It  is  all  done  by 
faith,"  she  said.  "I  have  faith  in  God,  and  that  is  sufficient 


498  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

4 

He  will  provide  me  with  all  that  is  necessary  to  carry  on 
this  work." 

"Under  whose  guidance  do  you  work?"  was  asked. 

"The  Lord's,  and  His  only,"  was  the  reply. 

"But  are  you  not  employed  by  some  religious  sect?" 

"No.  I  do  this  on  my  own  responsibility,  and  for  the 
glory  of  God.  For  the  past  fifteen  years  this  has  been  my 
life's  work.  I  go  where  I  please  and  do  as  I  please." 

"How  far  have  you  traveled?" 

"Thousands  and  thousands  of  miles.  Last  year  I  was 
in  Europe  and  have  been  all  over  America." 

For  the  past  forty  years  "Mother"  Wheaton  has  been 
a  professed  believer  in  Christianity.  Fiften  years  ago  she 
started  in  the  work  of  visiting  prisons,  and  has  been  in  e\ery 
place  of  detention  in  any  city  of  note.  She  is  received  with 
the  utmost  courtesy  both  by  the  officials  and  the  prisoners. 
Many  of  the  latter  have  met  her  at  different  places,  and 
most  all  the  officials  are  acquainted  with  her  and  her  work. 
— A  Detroit  paper. 

THE  PRISON  EVANGELIST. 

MRS.  E.  R.  WHEATON  DELIVERS  AN  ADDRESS  AT  THE  PENI- 
TENTIARY CHAPEL  SUNDAY  MORNING. 

The  service  at  the  penitentiary  chapel  Sunday  was  made 
memorable  by  the  presence  and  discourse  of  Mrs.  E.  R. 
\Vheaton,  the  world-known  prison  evangelist.  Chaplain 
Winget  conducted  the  services  and  offered  the  invocation 
and  in  a  few  explanatory  remarks  introduced  Mrs.  Whea- 
ton. Mrs.  Wheaton's  hair  is  white  as  silver,  but  she  still 
retains  her  ever-youthful  appearance  and  sprightly  step. 
She  sang  in  an  indescribably  sweet,  but  powerful,  voice 
"Some  Mother's  Child."  At  the  -conclusion  of  the  singing 
Mrs.  Wheaton  preached  a  wonderful  discourse,  "I  was 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  499 

on  my  way  to  Jerusalem,"  said  she,  "and  had  gotten  as  far 
as  London,  England,  when  the  Lord  turned  me  back  to  my 
own  country  and  to  my  suffering  boys  in  prison ;  and  I  said 
God  bless  my  children,  my  boys,  for  I  am  their  mother. 

"Oh!  how  sad  and  discouraged  many  of  you  are,  but  if 
you  will  believe  in  God  and  read  your  Bible  you  will  be 
comforted.  How  can  any  man  have  the  heart  not  to  be- 
lieve the  Bible  and  rest  his  case  upon  the  bosom  of  the  good 
Lord  who  died  for  us  ?  I  thank  God  that  the  good  old-time 
religion  still  lives.  The  devil,  my  children,  causes  you  all 
your  sufferings  and  sorrows.  Exchange  him  for  Jesus. 
He  will  keep  you.  Forgive  your  enemies  and  submit  your- 
self to  the  officers  of  the  prison.  You  must  obey — it  is  the 
Lord's  will.  He  has  placed  you  here  for  his  own  purpose, 
maybe  for  your  soul's  good  and  salvation.  Jesus  says, 
'Come  to  me  all  ye  that  are  heavy  laden  and  I  will  give  you 
rest.'  Have  faith.  I  am  so  sorry  when  some  of  you  do 
wrong  for  the  innocent  must  suffer  with  the  guilty  and 
society  becomes  stern  with  you.  God  bless  you  all." — Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  paper. 

MRS.  ELIZABETH  RIDER  WHEATON  PREACHES  TO  UN- 
FORTUNATES. 

VISITS  THE  BRIDEWELL  AND  HEARS  THE  COMPLAINT  OF  ONE 
OF  THE  CITY'S  CHARGES. 

"What's  the  use  ?  What  have  I  to  hope  for  ?  Who  cares 
for  me?  Who'll  help  me?  What  can  I  do  when  my  time 
expires?  Everybody's  hand  will  be  against  me!  A  hope- 
less drunkard  is  past  redemption." 

Tears  came  to  the  eyes  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton 
yesterday  afternoon  as  she  heard  these  words  fall  from  the 
lips  of  a  dejected  prisoner  at  the  bridewell.  The  prison  and 
train  evangelist  whose  work  for  fifteen  years  among  con- 


5OO  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

victs  had  brought  her  many  such  questions,  which  she  was 
unable  to  answer  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  prisoners,  spoke 
to  the  wretched  man  in  tender  tones,  and  told  him  of  the 
consolation  offered  by  religion. 

"But,"  she  said,  turning  to  a  reporter,  "what  can  I  do 
in  one  conversation?  It  needs  many.  I'm  going  back  to 
Chicago  next  week,  and  I  intend  to  devote  considerable 
time  to  every  prison  and  house  of  refuge  in  the  city.  I 
haven't  done  any  work  in  the  city  since  the  anarchist  exe- 
cution." 

Mrs.  Wheaton's  methods  of  evangelizing  are  sometimes 
dramatic.  For  instance,  Mrs.  Wheaton  arrived  in  Chicago 
from  St.  Louis  on  a  Wabash  train  early  yesterday  morning. 
Night  before  last,  while  the  train  was  speeding  along  in 
the  darkness,  the  occupants  of  the  reclining  chair  car  were 
startled. 

"Look  out!"  cried  a  voice  in  shrill  tones.  "We're  coming 
to  a  high  bridge.  Before  we  reach  it  we  pass  over  a  curve. 
The  rails  may  be  all  right,  the  bridge  may  be  safe;  but 
who  knows?" 

The  passengers  turned  around  in  their  seats.  They  looked 
frightened  and  appeared  anxious  to  know  whether  there 
was  really  an  impending  danger.  They  saw  only  a  woman 
whose  face,  softened  by  grief,  .bore  lines  of  pain  and  care. 
She  was  Mrs.  Wheaton. 

"But  the  Christian  is  not  afraid  to  die,"  she  continued. 
"He  welcomes  death  as  a  release  from  care  and  a  blessing." 

Then  the  evangelist  preached  a  sermon,  to  which  all 
listened  with  attention. 

Although  Mrs.  Wheaton  has  visited  every  state  in  the 
Union  many  times  during  her  fifteen  years  of  missionary 
work,  she  has  been  in  a  sleeping  car  but  once.  Railroads 


OR  A   LABOR  OF  LOVE  50 1 

give  her  passes.  She  has  no  property,  and,  of  course,  can 
collect  no  money  from  convicts,  though  occasionally  she 
teceives  a  contribution  on  trains. 

"The  trouble  of  it  all,"  said  she  after  her  talk  with  the 
man  in  the  bridewell,  "is  not  in  the  prisons.  It  is  after  the 
convicts  get  out.  For  that,  humanity  is  to  blame.  Prison- 
ers have  not  much  hope,  and  some  of  them  accept  religion 
in  a  tentative  sort  of  way. 

"When  they  are  released  they  are  hounded  by  the  police, 
marked  by  all  citizens  as  ostracized  men,  unable  to  get  em- 
ployment, and,  in  fact,  the  second  termers  tell  me  they  are 
reduced  almost  to  the  necessity  of  choosing  between  starva- 
tion and  stealing.  Those  whose  conversion  is  real  do 
neither,  because  no  man  need  ever  starve  in  this  country, 
but  the  weak  go  under  and  are  brought  back  to  jail.  What 
the  world  needs  is  more  Christian  charity.  We  should  for- 
give, as  our  Saviour  did,  seventy  times  seven." 

In  addition  to  her  charm  as  a  speaker,  Mrs.  Wheaton  is 
a  singer  of  no  mean  ability.  She  is  not  a  believer  in  men 
who  accept  religion  for  the  sake  of  business  and  put  on  a 
sanctimonious  air,  The  view  that  she  takes  of  life  meets 
with  favor  among  the  convicts,  and  she  sings  a  song  called 
"The  Twin  Ballots,"  which  illustrates  her  opinion  on  the 
temperance  question.  The  song  is  about  two  rum  votes  that 
sanctioned  the  license  plan,  "but  one  was  cast  by  a  cunning 
brewer  and  one  by  a  Sunday-school  man." 

The  evangelist  left  last  night  for  Pittsburg,  but  will  re- 
turn next  week.  She  said  she  wished  to  impress  upon 
people  the  fact  that  converted  prisoners  are  not  hypocrites, 
although  the  guards  often  suspect  insincerity  and  treat  a 
converted  man  worse  than  any  other,  because  they  think  he 
is  seeking  to  curry  favor. — A  Chicago  paper. 


502  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

A  DISGRACEFUL  PROCEEDING. 

Thursday  afternoon,  Mrs  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton,  the  noted 
prison  evangelist,  accompanied  by  a  sister,  asked  permission 
from  a  policeman,  which  was  granted,  to  hold  a  street  meet- 
ing for  religious  purposes. 

After  singing  some  hymns,  which,  from  their  superior 
rendition,  attracted  a  large  crowd,  Mrs.  Wheaton,  an  el- 
derly lady  who  has  devoted  seven  years  of  her  time  entirely 
to  prison  evangelical  work,  began  an  earnest  exhortation  to 
sinners.  After  preaching  for  a  few  minutes  Officer  C.  came 
up  and  said  that  the  mayor  had  ordered  him  to  put  a  stop 
to  the  proceedings. 

Mrs.  Wheaton  said  she  would  do  her  duty  without  fear 
of  man  and  continued  for  a  moment  longer.  Then  the  party 
knelt  on  the  snow  and  began  to  pray  for  the  mayor  and  the 
policeman.  While  they  were  praying  the  officer  came  up 
closely  followed  by  Mayor  J.,  and  roughly  pushed  Mrs. 
Wheaton  over.  The  mayor  with  fire  in  his  eye  as  well  as 
his  complexion,  spoke  in  a  very  rude  manner  to  the  ladies, 
practically  endorsing  the  rough  treatment  already  accorded 
the  party. 

Mrs.  Wheaton  showed  The  Dispatch  credentials  from 
very  high  sources  and  a  very  bulky  bundle  of  railroad  passes 
which  gave  substantial  evidence  of  the  manner  in  which  she 
and  her  work  are  regarded  elsewhere. 

She  has  traveled  over  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  and 
parts  of  Europe,  and  it  remained  tor  a  Leadville  mayor  to 
break  the  record  and  treat  her  with  indignity.  She  was 
very  much  shocked  and  grieved  and  said  she  felt  deeply 
sorry  for  Leadville,  which  she  had  often  heard  spoken  of 
as  a  wicked  city. 

The  Dispatch  is  free  to  say  that  Mayor  J.  acted  without 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  503 

adequate  provocation  and  displayed  an  unnecessary  exercise 
of  authority.  If  the  services  had  been  prolonged  to  any 
great  extent  he  might  have  sent  a  request  to  have  them  dis- 
continued, but  there  was  no  occasion  for  any  such  arbitrary 
exhibition  of  power  as  was  made. 

Far  greater  blockades  with  less  meritorious  objects  have 
existed  without  protest  in  Leadville.  A  medicine  faker  who 
pays  a  few  dollars  license  can  yell  and  sing  and  make  night 
hideous  for  hours  and  it  is  all  right,  but  a  humble  evangel- 
ical missionary,  whose  sincerity  and  good  intentions  are  not 
doubted,  however  persons  may  differ  concerning  the  methods, 
is  unceremoniously  made  to  move  on.  If  the  authorities 
displayed  as  much  zeal  in  suppressing  vice  as  they  do  in 
shutting  off  missionaries,  Leadville  would  be  a  model  city. 

The  prison  evangelists,  after  having  been  ordered  off 
Harrison  avenue,  visited  both  city  and  county  jails,  where 
they  were  kindly  received  and  permitted  by  the  officers  to 
hold  services  among  the  prisoners.  It  is  said  that  this  is  the 
first  religious  service  held  in  the  Leadville  jails. — Leadville, 
Colo.,  Dispatch,  March,  1891. 

DISGRACEFUL. 

Last  night,  when  the  ladies  who  have  been  conducting  re- 
ligious services  in  the  park,  were  preparing  to  close,  some 
miscreant  in  human  form  threw  a  small  torpedo  at  them 
and  struck  Mrs.  Wheaton  above  the  right  eye.  It  did  not 
produce  any  serious  injury,  but  was  very  painful  at  the 
time,  and  may  terminate  worse  than  at  first  supposed.  This 
act  evidently  issued  from  some  low,  depraved  fiend  whom 
the  darkness  of  the  hour  shielded  from  justice.  The  ladies 
departed  from  the  city  this  morning,  and  the  exact  result 
of  the  disgraceful  episode  cannot  be  learned.  As  soon  as  it 
was  done  some  man  in  the  crowd  offered  $100  reward  for 


504  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

the  identification  of  the  party  who  did  the  dastardly  trick, 
but  of  course  no  one  knew  who  the  miscreant  was  except 
he  himself. — Jacksonville,  111.,  paper,  June  26,  1887. 

THE  PRISON  EVANGELIST. 

"Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton,  prison  evangelist,  Chicago, 
111.  Meet  me  in  heaven.  No  home  but  heaven."  This  is 
what  is  printed  on  the  card  of  a  remarkable  woman  who 
visited  the  penitentiary  and  talked  to  the  convicts  at  n 
o'clock  on  Sunday.  This  woman  has  been  engaged  in  this 
work  for  about  nine  years,  and  she  has  visited  nearly  every 
prison  and  jail  in  the  United  States,  Canada  and  Mexico. 
She  is  the  Moody  of  the  convict  world.  She  asks  for  no 
money.  She  gives  her  services  free,  and  trusts  to  Provi- 
dence for  her  support.  "The  Lord  provides,"  she  says. 
She  has  held  services  in  a  different  state  or  territorial  prison 
the  past  five  Sundays,  from  Still  water,  Minn,  (where  Cole 
Younger  is  confined  and  assists  in  and  sometimes  leads  re- 
ligious services),  to  Salem,  Oregon.  Mrs.  Wheaton  also 
visits  reform  schools.  She  is  one  of  the  chief  advocates  of 
the  reformatory  system  being  adopted  in  some  of  the  East- 
ern prisons  whereby  convicts  of  different  classes  are  graded 
and  kept  separate,  wear  different  uniforms,  etc.,  and  are 
also  let  out  on  furloughs  on  trial  or  probation.  Mrs. 
Wheaton  devotes  her  whole  time  to  prison  work.  She  cer- 
tainly accomplishes  some  good  from  all  this  effort.  She  was 
a  Methodist  before  taking  up  this  life  work,  but  now  holds 
to  nc  sect. — Salem,  Oregon,  paper,  Nov.  16,  1891. 

A  NOBLE  WORK. 

Among  the  evangelistic  workers  who  go  out  among  the 
people  seeking  the  low  and  degraded  and  trying  to  lift  them 
up  to  be  better  men  and  women,  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton  is 
one  of  the  chosen  few  who  is  well  adapted  to  this  work. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  505 

She  asks  no  pay  and  receives  none,  but  with  noble  purpose 
and  with  heart  and  mind  fully  in  the  work  which  has  been 
given  her,  she  travels  from  Maine  to  California  and  from 
British  Columbia  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Her  work  is  chiefly  among  the  state  prisons,  county  jails 
and  reform  schools.  Here  she  meets  a  class  of  people 
schooled  in  vice  and  who  have  been  kept  face  to  face  with 
the  different  evils  all  their  lives ;  these  are  the  people  whom 
she  seeks  to  save. 

Mrs.  Wheaton  has  just  returned  from  a  successful  trip 
through  Mexico  and  the  South  and  is  now  on  her  way  to 
Walla  Walla,  Portland  and  British  Columbia.  She  stopped 
off  here  to  visit  our  penitentiary  and  jail.  Through  the 
kindness  of  the  warden  she  held  a  song  service  last  Sunday 
at  the  State  penitentiary,  and  the  amount  of  good  which  she 
did  was  shown  by  the  eager  attention  of  the  convicts,  and 
the  tear-stained  faces  of  some  who,  when  the  good  old- 
fashioned  hymns  were  sung,  thought  of  their  fai-away 
homes  and  mothers.  Sunday  evening  she  held  services  at 
the  jail  and  on  the  street,  both  of  which  were  much  appre- 
ciated.— Unidentified. 

GOSPEL  FOR  THE  PRISONERS. 

THE   INMATES   OF   ATLANTA'S   PRISONS   HEARD   PREACHING 
YESTERDAY. 

The  prisoners  at  police  headquarters,  at  the  jail  and  at 
the  city  stockade  listened  to  the  gospel  of  Christ  yesterday. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton,  the  famous  prison  -evan- 
gelist, of  Washington,  held  services  at  all  these  places. 
Her  talks  were  of  the  most  interesting  character  and  evi- 
dently made  deep  impressions  upon  her  hearers. 

The  service  at  the  jail  was  held  in  the  morning,  the  one 


5O6  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

at  the  stockade  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  one  at  the  police 
station  at  night. 

Mrs.  Wheaton  is  perhaps  the  most  famous  evangelist  of 
her  kind  in  the  country.  She  makes  a  specialty  of  this  work 
and  follows  it  closely  week  after  week.  She  has  preached 
to  convicts  and  prisoners  in  every  state  in  the  Union,  fre- 
quently traveling  as  far  as  700  miles  between  Sundays  in 
order  to  make  an  appointment.  She  has  letters  of  introduc- 
tion from  the  governors  of  many  states,  and  free  passes  on 
railroads.  She  is  here  with  the  Christian  Workers,  but  is 
not  a  delegate. — Atlanta,  Ga.,  paper,  Nov.  14,  1893. 

PRISON  EVANGELISTS. 
THE  INMATES  OF  THE  COUNTY  JAIL  TREATED  TO  A  SERMON. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton,  the  prison  evangelist,  who 
has  been  traveling  over  the  United  States  for  ten  years  past, 
and  two  sisters  from  Washington,  D.  C,  and  Kansas  City, 
arrived  in  the  city  this  morning  and  held  religious  service 
in  the  county  jail.  The  twenty-four  inmates  of  the  bastile 
were  much  pleased  with  the  service. 

Mrs.  Wheaton  and  her  companions  held  services  yester- 
day at  the  prison  at  Lansing,  Kan.,  where  900  convicts  are 
confined.  Lately  they  have  come  from  the  convict  camp  of 
South  Carolina  and  Mrs.  Wheaton  can  tell  many  tales  of  the 
sufferings  endured  by  the  'prisoners  there. — Unidentified. 

THE  NEWS  AT  LEAVEN  WORTH. 

MOTHER  WHEATON,  PRISON  EVANGELIST,  VISITS  THE  UNITED 
STATES  PRISON. 

Religious  services  at  the  federal  penitentiary  at  Fort 
Leavenworth  yesterday  were  somewhat  out  of  the  usual 
order.  Mother  Wheaton,  the  prison  evangelist,  late  of  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  now  of  Iowa,  preached  to  the  convicts  at  the 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  507 

morning  hour.  Her  address  was  a  most  effective  one  and 
men  all  through  the  audience  were  moved  to  tears.  At  the 
close  of  the  service  she  stood  at  the  chapel  door  and  shook 
the  hand  of  each  prisoner  as  he  went  out. 

Her  head  is  white  with  age,  yet  she  has  visited  the  prisons 
of  the  United  States  and  many  in  Europe,  bearing  messages 
of  hope  and  cheer  to  the  condemned.  She  is  not  alone  a 
woman  of  ready  speech,  but  is  a  sweet  singer  as  well.  Her 
life  is  dedicated  to  her  work,  and  many  is  the  unfortunate 
who  has  cause  to  bless  the  visit  of  Mother  Wheaton.  Mrs. 
T.,  of  this  city,  accompanied  her  to  the  prison. — Leaven- 
worth,  Kan.,  paper. 

JAIL  SERVICE. 

The  inmates  of  the  county  jail  were  honored  yesterday 
by  a  visit  from  that  well  known  prison  evangelist,  Eliza- 
beth Rider  Wheaton,  who  was  accompanied  by  a  Mrs.  S., 
of  Kansas.  Mrs.  Wheaton  conducted  religious  services  and 
her  talk  had  a  deep  effect  upon  murderer  Williamson,  the 
old  man  being  visibly  moved. 

Mrs.  Wheaton  has  made  the  visiting  of  prisons,  con- 
demned men  and  fallen  women  hej-  life  work,  and  in  the 
course  of  her  travels  during  the  past  seven  years  has  visited 
Europe,  the  British  provinces,  Mexico  and  the  United 
States.  As  an  example  of  her  earnest  efforts  it  may  be 
mentioned  that  during  the  past  thirteen  Sundays  she  has 
visited  and  held  services  in  fourteen  different  state  peni- 
tentiaries. Mrs.  Wheaton  is  a  lady  of  striking  appearance. 
She  has  a  motherly  countenance  and  a  magnetism  which  at- 
tracts the  closest  attention  to  what  she  says.  Her  discourse 
yesterday  was  eloquent,  yet  at  times  plain  and  pointed  to 
severity.  Mrs.  Wheaton  left  yesterday  on  the  afternoon 
train  for  the  Pacific  coast. — Sedalia,  Mo.,  paper,  November, 
1891. 


508  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

PREACHED  TO  CONVICTS. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton,  the  noted  evangelist,  and 
Mrs.  Perry,  who  are  engaged  in  preaching  and  working 
among  the  prisons,  visited  the  Virginia  penitentiary  yester- 
day and  held  services  in  each  chapel.  Their  exhortations 
and  singing  were  of  a  high  order  and  produced  a  powerful 
effect  among  the  prisoners.  Many  of  them  made  a  profes- 
sion of  faith.  Mrs.  Wheaton  has  preached  in  most  of  the 
penitentiaries  of  the  United  States.  She  has  also  traveled 
and  preached  in  Canada  and  Mexico  as  well  as  in  the  Old 
World.  The  ladies  are  being  entertained  by  Superintendent 
Lynn  and  will  remain  in  the  city  several  days. 

POLICE  STATION  SERVICES. 

MRS.    ELIZABETH    RIDER    WHEATON    TALKS   TO   THE    MEMBERS 
OF   THE    FORCE. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton,  the  evangelist,  was  at  the 
police  station  last  night  at  roll  call  and  held  a  short  service 
for  the  benefit  of  the  members  of  the  police  force.  She  de- 
livered an  interesting  address  to  the  officers  and  offered  a 
prayer,  after  which  she  led  them  in  a  song.  The  officers 
expressed  themselves  as  having  been  greatly  benefited  by  the 
service,  and  the  evangelist  was  invited  to  call  again. — 
Unidentified. 

SERVICES  AT  THE  WORKHOUSE. 

"Mother"  Wheaton,  the  prison  evangelist,  who  was  men- 
tioned last  Monday  as  holding  meetings  in  Island  Park  the 
day  before,  called  at  the  police  station  this  morning  to  ask 
permission  to  talk  and  sing  to  the  prisoners  confined  in  the 
workhouse.  The  permission  was  granted.  The  lady  has 
traveled  extensively  in  her  evangelistic  work,  making  flying 
trips  all  over  the  United  States  especially.  Within  the  last 
thirty  days  she  has  talked  to  prisoners  at  Walla  Walla,  Ta- 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  5OQ 

coma  and  in  other  northwestern  cities  While  in  this 
city  she  is  the  guest  of  her  sister,  Mrs.  Huffman,  of  Ken- 
wood— Elkhart  (Ind.)  Paper. 

A  STRANGE  LIFE  OF  DEVOTION  IN  NEGLECTED  FIELDS. 

The  prisoners  in  the  Dade  coal  mines  made  the  acquaint- 
ance yesterday  of  two  women — -two  religious  tramps,  if 
you  please,  using  the  word  literally — whose  adventures  in 
evangelizing  are  probably  without  parallel. 

They  are  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton,  the  famous 
prison  evangelist,  and  her  temporary  assistant,  Mrs.  P. 

Mrs.  Wheaton  has  for  ten  years  been  preaching  in 
prisons,  convict  camps,  houses  of  ill-fame  and  the  like,  not 
only  in  the  United  States,  but  in  Canada,  Mexico  and 
Europe.  One,  upon  meeting  her,  would  naturally  be  very 
uncertain  as  to  where  one  might  or  might  not  meet  next  this 
spirit-led  traveler — recognizing  which  uncertainty,  perhaps, 
she  has  printed  upon  her  cards,  in  lieu  of  an  earthly  ad- 
dress : 

"Meet  me  in  heaven." 

The  two  women  visited  the  jail  Thursday,  becoming  very 
much  interested  in  the  case  of  P.  S.,  it  seems,  on  account  of 
his  relationship  to  Rev.  S.  J.  Mrs.  Wheaton  spoke  of  P. 
as  a  "beautiful  black-eyed  young-  married  man." 

They  took  part  in  the  Christian  alliance  meeting  Friday 
afternoon  at  51  James  street,  at  which  over  thirty  people 
were  present. 

They  will  hold  special  services  at  the  coal  mine  convict 
camps  to-day,  returning  to  Atlanta  within  a  few  days.  They 
carry  this  letter — an  "open  sesame"  to  every  prison  and 
camp  in  Georgia : 

"Atlanta,  Ga.,  June  30. — To  the  captain  in  charge  of  convict 
camps  in  Georgia:  I  desire  that  each  of  you  extend  to  these  ladies, 


5IO  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Mrs.  Wheaton  and  Mrs.  ,  any  courtesies  possible  during  their 

stay  with  you;  that  they  may  be  given  opportunities  to  talk  to  the 
men  and  women  in  your  charge.  I  will  particularly  appreciate  any 
kindness  shown  them.  The  governor  also  requests  that  they  be  shown 
courtesies. ' ' 

It  is  signed  by  George  H.  Jones,  the  principal  keeper. 
"Courtesies,"  by  the  way,  is  spelled  "curtisys"  in  the  letter, 
but  it's  official,  and  "it  goes." 

Return  to  Atlanta — that  is  to  say  they  will  return  unless 
the  spirit  moves  Mrs.  Wheaton  to  go  on  from  Chattanooga 
to  St.  Louis,  or  Montreal,  or  Berlin,  or  somewhere  else. 

Coming  to  Atlanta  on  the  Richmond  and  Danville,  Mrs. 
Wheaton  was  moved  to  hold  services  in  the  smoking  car. 
Just  as  the  train  was  rolling  out  of  Calhoun,  S.  C,  Mrs. 
Wheaton  spied  some  convicts  at  work. 

Convicts ! 

Instantly  she  decided  to  stop  over.  She  and  Mrs.  P. 
bundled  up  their  wraps  and  packages  and  got  off 
after  the  train  had  started.  They  knew  nobody  there. 
They  had  no  money — that  is,  "not  enough  to  count."  Some- 
how or  other  they  got  transportation  to  and  from  the  sta- 
tion, and  supper,  and  to  other  works,  and  arranged  a  meet- 
ing. It  was  a  glorious  meeting,  they  say. 

Mrs.  Wheaton's  faith — and  railroad  passes,  she  adds 
laughingly — 'have  kept  her  going  for  ten  years. 

She  traveled  5,000  miles  between  one  Sunday  and  the 
second  Sunday  afterwards,  collecting  only  fifty  cents  on  the 
way. 

The  Lord  will  provide,  she  knows. 

The  faith  that  removes  mountains  is  here  in  reality. 

Always  on  the  go — never  stopping  but  a  day  or  two  in 
one  place — meeting  men  to  be  hanged  the  next  day — pray- 
ing with  fallen  women — interceding  with  governors  for 
human  life — blindly  following,  without  regard  to  time  or 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  511 

distance,  the  mysterious  dictates  of  what  she  calls  "the 
Spirit." 

She  is  so  well  known  now  throughout  the  United  States 
—having  been  engaged  in  this  work  for  ten  years — that  she 
is  rarely  refused  a  railroad  pass.  She  has  letters  of  com- 
mendation from  governors  and  prison  authorities.  *  *  * 

Mrs.  Wheaton's  services  in  the  jails  and  convict  camps 
are  unique,  remarkable  for  their  fervency  and  impromptu 
character.  Singing  plays  an  important  part.  *  *  * 

Mrs.  Wheaton  has  made  many  wonderful  conversions 
in  the  slums  and  prisons,  and  has  seen  many  famous  crim- 
inals in  their  last  hours. 

She  is  the  guest  in  Atlanta  of  Mrs.  J.  H.  Murphy,  at  267 
East  Cain  street. — Atlanta  (Ga.)  Herald,  July  2,  1893. 

PREACHING  ON  THE  STREETS. 

Thursday  evening  the  sound  of  an  alto  voice  singing  a 
familiar  hymn  on  Sandy  street,  near  Murphy's  corner,  soon 
gathered  a  crowd,  when  a  lady,  whose  hair  was  beginning 
to  silver  with  gray,  mounted  a  box  and  preached  to  the 
mixed  assemblage  a  sermon,  after  which  the  singing  was 
resumed,  the  meeting-  concluding  with  a  fervent  and  earnest 
prayer.  A  reporter  called  at  the  hotel  and  learned  that 
the  lady  was  Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton,  a  prison  evan- 
gelist. Heretofore  she  has  had  a  "sister"  to  travel  with 
her.  She  showed  the  reporter  stacks  of  letters  from  the 
wardens  of  various  state  penitentiaries,  commending  her, 
and  praising  the  work  she  has  done  in  this  specialty.  She 
has  preserved  files  of  newspaper  criticisms,  many  of  which 
are  complimentary  of  the  work  she  has  done,  and  some 
from  the  secular  press  making  light  of  her  work. 

That  she  is  in  earnest  no  one  who  considers  that  she  has 
given  up  home  and  friends  and  roamed  all  over  the  United 


512  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

States,  Canada,  Mexico  and  in  part  of  Europe  to  preach  to 
unappreciative  street  crowds,  prison  convicts,  etc.,  can  doubt. 
And  whatever  may  be  said  of  the  method,  as  was  illustrated 
on  the  streets  here  last  night,  there  are  many  reached  with 
a  sermon  that  have  not  perhaps  heard  one  for  months. — 
Unidentified. 

PRAYER  SERVICE  IN  JAIL. 

Through  the  efforts  of  Mrs.  E.  R.  Wheaton,  the  prison 
evangelist,  the  county  jail  was  turned  into  a  house  of  prayer 
last  evening,  and  for  an  hour  or  more  the  walls  of  the  build- 
ing resounded  with  the  shouts  of  prayer  and  praise  of  this 
earnest  woman. 

During  the  afternoon  Mrs.  Wheaton  called  on  Gregory, 
the  horsethiet  and  desperado,  and  was  the  first  to  bring  to 
the  surface  in  his  case  any  signs  of  remorse  or  sentiment 
of  any  kind.  When  the  gray-haired  and  motherly  woman 
took  the  hand  ot  the  confessed  thief  and  ex-convict  in  hers 
and  prayed  for  him  great  tears  flowed  down  his  cheeks 
and  he  was  affected  as  none  of  the  other  prisoners  had 
been  Gregory  said  he  had  known  Mrs.  Wheaton  for  four- 
teen years.  She  does  not  remember  him,  but  says  it  is  not 
unlikely  that  he  has  seen  her  if  he  has  been  in  the  several 
prisons  in  which  it  is  said  he  has  served  time,  as  .she  has 
been  visiting  them  all  off  and  on  in  her  work  for  a  great 
many  years — Council  Bluffs,  Iowa,  Nonpareil,  Jan.  19, 
1900. 

THEIR  WORK  IS  IN  PRISONS. 

Party  of  Evangelists  Pay  a  Visit  to  the  County  Jail. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton,  the  prison  evangelist, 
was  in  Butte  for  a  short  time  yesterday  on  her  way  west, 
and  between  trains  conducted  services  in  the  corridor  of 
the  county  jail. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  513 

In  addition  to  being  an  earnest  exhorter,  Mrs.  Wheaton, 
despite  the  fact  that  she  is  well  advanced  in  years,  is  the 
possessor  of  a  fine  voice.  When  she  sings  in  a  prison  the 
most  hardened  criminals  never  fail  to  listen  to  her  with 
great  respect.  During  the  services  in  the  jail  yesterday 
clerks  and  court  officers  ceased  from  their  duties  and  with 
the  people  who  had  business  in  the  building,  blocked  the 
passage  ways  leading  to  the  jail  to  listen  to  her.  The 
other  members  of  the  party  also  delivered  exhortations  and 
joined  in  the  singing.  The  farewell  hymn,  given  in  a 
clear  soprano  voice  by  Mrs.  Wheaton,  "God  be  with  you 
till  we  meet  again,"  was  especially  sweet.  Whether  the 
services  made  any  lasting  impression  on  the  men  behind 
the  bars  cannot  be  known,  but  the  fact  remains  that  when 
they  were  over  there  was  an  unusual  quiet  in  the  jail  and 
the  air  seemed  more  wholesome.  From  Butte  she  went  to 
Deer  Lodge  to  visit  the  penitentiary. — Butte,  Montana, 
paper,  1897. 

STREET  SERVICES. 

On  Wednesday  and  Thursday  our  town  was  visited  by 
two  lady  missionaries  or  preachers  of  the  gospel.  They 
were  perfect  strangers  here  and  claimed  that  their  mission 
was  to  try  to  open  the  eyes  of  sinful  people  and  beg  them 
to  come  to  Christ.  They  sang,  prayed  and  preached  upon 
the  streets,  and  at  the  colored  church,  having  been  refused 
the  use  of  some  of  the  white  churches.  We  know  not  whom 
these  persons  are,  or  from  where  they  came,  but  we  do 
know  that  they  were  very  lady-like  in  their  conduct,  and 
there  was  a  terrible  earnestness  about  their  work.  They 
preached  pure  gospel  in  the  most  Christ-like  manner  that 
it  was  ever  our  privilege  to  hear — down  upon  their  knees 
in  the  streets,  surrounded  by  a  motley  multitude,  begging 


514  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

God  in  a  most  pleading  and  fervent  manner  to  save  the  sin- 
ners of  this  place,  and  singing  glorious  praises  to  Him  on 
this  beautiful  day  of  national  thanksgiving,  was  a  spectacle 
that  we  had  never  expected  to  witness.  Whether  or  not 
this  is  proper  in  the  eyes  of  the  world  we  cannot  say,  but 
if  their  work  is  earnest  as  it  seems,  they  will  be  rewarded 
in  heaven. — Unidentified. 

FOR  PRISONERS. 

TOUCHING   SCENES    IN    BANGOR    JAIL.' — GOOD   DEEDS   THAT 
SHINE  IN  MORAL  DARKNESS. 

Never  were  gospel  hymns — words  of  comfort  set  to 
hopeful  music,  sang  more  sweetly  and  earnestly,  or  with 
better  effect  than  were  the  songs  of  a  plainly  dressed  woman 
of  tranquil  face  and  gentle  manner  in  the  echoing  corridors 
of  Bangor  jail  Tuesday  afternoon. 

This  woman  was  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton  whose 
home  is  everywhere  in  earth's  saddest  ways.  She  is  a 
prison  evangelist  and  her  card  bears  the  simple  admonition: 
"Prepare  to  Meet  Thy  God." 

She  came  lately  to  Maine,  and  arrived  in  Bangor  Tues- 
day noon  from  Belfast.  On  the  train  Mrs.  Wheaton  talked 
of  Christian  things,  and  she  sang  hymns  to  the  passengers 
— "Throw  Out  the  Life  Line"  and  other  well-remembered 
songs — in  a  way  that  reached  the  hearts  of  all.  When 
she  got  here  she  went  for  a  few  minutes  to  a  low-priced 
hotel,  and  thence  to  the  county  jail.  The  officials  received 

her  kindly,  and  the  prisoners,  who,  after  their  dinner  of 
soup,  had  gone  into  the  work  shop,  were  brought  in  to 

hear  some  of  the  kindest  words  and  most  touching  songs 
that  they  had  listened  to  for  many  a  day. 

Those  innocent  and  comfortable  Christians  who  have 
only  heard  hymns  sung  in  churches  or  chapels  to  well- 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  515 

dressed  and  presumably  good  people  can  have  no  idea  of 
the  sweetly  weird  effect  of  gospel  melodies  swelling  in  the 
vast  and  dismal  spaces  of  a  jail,  while  gathered  around  are 
the  very  lost  sheep  that  the  shepherds  of  churches  are  com- 
manded to  find.  It  is  a  reproachful  picture  from  the  real- 
ism of  blasted  lives — a  startling,  chilling  glimpse  of  the 
depth  of  wretchedness,  lighted  up  by  a  feeble  ray  from  the 
goodness  that  yet  survives  amid  it  all. 

Some  old  and  hardened  habitues  of  jails  mock  and  sneer 
at  the  voices  raised  in  their  behalf  and  scoff  at  the  hands 
held  out  to  lift  them  up,  but  most  men,  in  jail  or  out,  treat 
women  like  this  with  silent  respect.  It  was  so  in  the  jail 
Tuesday. 

When  the  men  had  filed  out  to  the  broom  shop  again 
Mrs.  Wheaton  went  to  a  cell  occupied  by  two  elderly 
women  and  talked  and  sang  to  them.  The  women,  whose 
wickedness  all  lay  in  drink,  seemed  pleased  and  affected. 
They  thought  this  evangelist  the  kindest  they  had  ever 
met. 

The  evangelist  may  hold  some  meetings  here  before  she 
leaves.  She  was  much  pleased  with  her  reception  in  Ban- 
gor,  and  would  like  to  remain  a  few  days.  She  has  letters 
of  recommendation  from  the  governors  of  several  states  and 
from  the  officials  of  numerous  prisons.  She  belongs  to  no 
army  or  organization,  but  travels  independently,  doing 
what  good  she  can. — Bangor,  Me.,  paper. 

ELIZABETH  R.  WHEATON. 

THE    NOTED    PRISON    EVANGELIST    PAYS   THE    TRINIDAD   JAILS 

A  VISIT. 

Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton,  the  well-known  prison  evangelist, 
arrived  in  the  city  Monday  evening  and  yesterday  visited 
the  county  and  city  jails,  where  she  talked  and  prayed  with 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

the  poor  unfortunates  confined  therein.  *  *  *  More 
than  one  poor  fellow  has  blessed  the  short  hour  when  her 
motherly  presence  and  sweetly  spoken  words  of  comfort 
have  made  his  fate  seem  easier  to  bear,  while  repentant  tears 
have  filled  the  eyes  of  many  a  hardened  criminal  when 
listening  to  her  pleadings.  She  approaches  the  most  de- 
graded with  a  familiar  motherly  air,  which  at  once  wins 
their  most  profound  respect  and  reverence.  *  *  * 

Mrs.  Wheaton  expects  to  leave  today  for  Pueblo  where 
she  will  be  joined  by  a  sister  in  the  work,  when  they  will 
continue  their  journey  together.  She  spoke  very  highly  of 
the  courteous  treatment  received  from  the  officers  and  of 
the  cleanly  condition  of  the  jails. — Daily  Advertiser,  Trini- 
dad, Colo. 

VISIT  FROM  MISSIONARIES. 

Elizabeth  Rider  Wheaton,  better  known  as  "Mother 
Wheaton,"  the  prison  evangelist,  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Tay- 
lor, of  Tabor,  Iowa,  called  at  the  Institution  Thursday  aft- 
ernoon on  a  missionary  errand.  Mother  Wheaton  has  spent 
fifteen  years  in  evangelical  work  among  the  inmates  of 
the  various  prisons  throughout  the  United  States.  Her 
friends  among  the  convicts  are  numbered  by  the  thou- 
sands. We  so  rarely  meet  with  any  one  who  really  sym- 
pathizes with  us  in  our  misfortune  that  when  these  two 
good  women  come  inside  the  walls  for  no  other  purpose 
but  to  encourage  us  to  do  better  and  give  assurance  of  their 
love  and  good  wishes,  we  are  made  to  feel  that  we  are  still 
human  and  may  hope  for  a  better  day.  By  reason  of  the 
chapel  building  undergoing  repairs,  it  was  impossible  for 
them  to  meet  many  of  the  boys  or  hold  services. — A  Prison 
Paper. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  517 

A  REMARKABLE  SCENE. 

A    WORK   OF   LOVE   BY   AN    ELDERLY   LADY. — THE    SCENERY    OF 
OAK   CLIFF. 

Last  night  the  moon  shed  its  full  luster  slightly  dimmed 
by  thin  clouds. 

The  crowd  stood  by  a  negro  church  at  the  point  of  the 
hill,  just  above  the  creek  banks  at  their  intersection.  The 
view  from  the  top  of  the  hill  was  enchanting. 

The  lady  passed  the  crowd  and  stopped  in  the  moonshine 
in  front  of  the  church.  Here  she  was  joined  by  a  party  of 
three  other  ladies  and  two  men,  whom  she  had  preceded 
•a  little.  Two  of  the  ladies  held  babies  in  their  arms. 

In  a  strong  and  beautiful  alto  voice  a  song  burst  forth 
from  the  lips  of  the  elderly  lady :  "I  Will  Tell  the  Won- 
drous Story  of  the  Christ  Who  Died  for  Me."  Her  com- 
panions joined  her  in  the  song  and  the  refrain  echoed  far 
and  near  over  the  hillsides:  "Of  the  Christ  who  died  for 
me." 

The  inhabitants  heard  it. 

But  this  is  the  part  of  Oak  Cliff  inhabited  by  negroes. 
In  response  they  swarmed  out  as  would  have  done  the 
followers  to  the  signal  of  Roderick  Dhu. 

Pretty  soon  the  church  was  filled  and  a  few  white  people 
were  among  the  audience  drawn  thither  by  the  song. 

The  services  were  begun  with  prayer  by  the  elderly 
lady,  whose  hair,  when  she  had  removed  her  bonnet,  shone 
silvery  gray.  It  was  nothing  out  of  the  usual  order  of 
prayers  except  that  it  was  accompanied  with  unusual  fer- 
vor and  simplicity  being  adapted  to  the  circumstances.  If 
any  had  assembled  through  curiosity  she  prayed  that  their 
hearts  would  be  turned. 

Then  came  other  singing  and  prayer  by  a  good  colored 


5l8  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

sister  named  Cynthia  Maria,  who  wore  a  white  bonnet,  and 
chanted  her  words,  making  the  scene  a  wierd  one. 

Then  the  elderly  lady  rendered  in  beautiful  solo,  "Oh 
Christ,  I  am  lost  forever.  I  am  to  confront  an  angry  God," 
from  which  she  began  her  discourse,  pleading  to  her  col- 
ored hearers  to  open  their  hearts  that  night.  She  said  she 
had  the  old  time  religion.  This  announcement  was  greeted 
with  religious  laughter  from  the  congregation.  The  women 
had  not  been  allowed  to  preach  and  she  thought  that  there 
were  souls  in  perdition  on  this  account.  People  said  that 
she  had  no  business  there  last  night.  She  had  business  in 
glory  and  was  going  to  help  crown  Christ  the  Lord  of 
Lords.  For  seven  years  she  had  been  a  pilgrim  and  had 
traveled  from  ocean  to  ocean  and  from  state  to  state  with- 
out receiving  a  salary  or  taking  up  a  cent.  There  was  the 
same  God  with  her  who  was  with  Daniel  in  the  lions'  den, 
and  who  led  the  Children  of  Israel  through  the  Red  Sea. 
She  had  seen  sore  trouble,  but  there  were  few  who  knew 
it.  She  had  the  old-time  religion,  and  that  was  what  her 
hearers  needed.  She  forsook  home  and  country  to  go  and 
preach  the  gospel  to  convicts  and  fallen  women  and  most 
of  her  friends  had  forsaken  her  for  this.  She  used  to  be 
proud.  She  had  given  up  pride  and  given  up  style.  She 
was  glad  that  God  had  called  the  meeting.  She  did  not 
know  that  she  was  to  preach  there  until  yesterday  after- 
noon when  someone  informed  her  that  the  colored  people 
wanted  her  to  preach.  She  had  visited  the  county  jail 
last  Sunday  and  prayed  and  sang  with  the  prisoners.  Some 
of  them  had  forgotten  about  the  old-time  religion  and  re- 
quested her  to  sing  the  song  having  that  title. 

Here  the  woman  began  that  song  joined  by  the  congre- 
gation, a  large  number  of  whom  got  happy.  It  required 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  5IQ 

the  efforts  of  several  of  the  colored  portion  of  the  congre- 
gation to  hold  down  one  sister  who  wore  a  straw  hat  and 
got  shouting  happy  and  paid  no  attention  to  her  surround- 
ings. 

After  a  short  talk  by  Rev.  B.,  colored,  the  congregation 
was  dismissed. 

Ax  THE  COLORED  CHURCH. 

MRS.  ELIZABETH  R.  WHEATON  LECTURES  ON  THE  IMPORTANCE 

OF    CONVERSION SHE    SAYS    THE    HARDEST    PEOPLE 

TO   CONVERT   ARE   PREACHERS. 

As  a  News  reporter  and  a  News  special  artist,  guided 
by  a  friendly  star,  wended  their  muddy  way  last  night  to 
the  little  negro  church  upon  the  hill  at  Oak  Cliff,  they 
overtook  two  solemn  looking  figures  going  up  an  incline. 
One  of  them  proved  to  be  the  famous  prison  evangelist, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton.  This  lady  turned  her  face  to 
the  News  emissaries  and  inquired  in  a  sweet  silvery  tone: 

"Going  to  church,  brothers?" 

"Yes,  ma'am." 

"Oh,  God  bless  you,  brothers,  come  on." 

A  few  minutes  later  the  church  was  reached.  The  pen- 
itent sister  with  the  white  bonnet,  who  was  inspired  on 
the  previous  night  and  started  to  shouting,  had  already  ar- 
rived, as  also  had  the  good  sister  who  called  on  the  base- 
ball man  to  run  from  the  devil.  What  influence  drives 
those  simple  worshipers  to  shouting  and  to  imitate  flying, 
is  a  question  for  the  psychologists.  Certain  it  is  that  the 
little  and  the  great  are  linked  together  in  this  life  and 
perhaps  the  present  is  linked  to  the  future.  Quien  sabe. 
The  meeting  last  night  was  free  from  shouting,  but  fervid 
with  emotion.  On  arriving  in  front  of  the  church  Mrs. 
Wheaton  turned  her  face  to  the  pale  moon,  which  had 


520  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

sailed  high  in  the  heavens,  and  sang  "Sweet  are  the  tidings 
that  greet  the  pilgrims'  ear."  As  she  sung  she  gesticu- 
lated and  her  gray  hair  shone  like  silver.  She  had  not  gone 
beyond  the  third  line  of  the  said  stirring  hymn  before  the 
penitents  inside  of  the  church  started  to  sing  a  hymn  and 
then  the  scene  was  as  impressive  as  the  music  was  dis- 
cordant. The  hymns  over,  Mrs.  Wheaton  knelt  on  the  wet 
ground  and  prayed  while  Deacon  Banks  did  likewise  in- 
side of  the  church.  The  interjections  were  so  many  that 
he  was  forced  to  -use  short  sentences. 

"Come  one,  come  all,  while  it  is  day." 

"O,  yes,  Lord,  we  come,  we'se  a'comin'." 

"O  Lord,  put  the  move  on  and  call  us  away." 

"O,  yes,  good  Lord,  we  come." 

At  this  point  Mrs.  Wheaton  entered  and  ascended  the 
low  pulpit  from  which,  for  a  moment,  she  silently  sur- 
veyed the  assembled  multitude  of  black  faces.  She  was 
wreathed  in  smiles,  looking  like  the  sun  of  righteousness 
shining  on  a  dark,  murky  cloud  of  suffering  humanity. 

"God  grant/'  she  observed,  "that  nobody  goes  down  to 
the  lake  of  fire."'  "God  grant  it,  ma-a-a-m."  "Oh-oh-bo-bo." 
"Nobody  knows  de  trouble  I  see,"  and  any  number  of  ex- 
clamations each  giving  vent  to  an  exclamation  suited  to 
the  feelings  of  the  penitent.  The  mention  of  fire  seemed 
to  cause  a  panic  among  the  good  colored  people  with  a 
single  exception.  He*  was  a  dude  who  did  not  deign  to 
sit  down,  but  stood  near  the  door  seemingly  watching  the 
females.  Only  once  did  he  drop  on  his  knees  and  that  was 
when  he  discovered  the  News  artist  in  the  act  of  tracing 
his  outlines  on  the  flyleaf  of  a  prayer  book. 

Mrs.  Wheaton  then  lectured  upon  the  importance  of 
conversion.  As  she  proceeded,  describing  the  fate  of  con- 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  521 

victs  and  other  sufferers,  the  iron  of  the  ways  of  the  world 
seemed  to  enter  her  soul  and  she  wept.  Nobody  who  hears 
her  doubts  her  sincerity.  She  does  not  criticise  the  fallen ; 
she  weeps  for  them.  The  folks  in  heaven  do  the  same. 
Only  once  last  night  did  she  criticise,  and  she  said  she  did 
it  for  a  benevolent  purpose,  and  as  she  did  it  (as  indeed 
throughout  her  entire  remarks)  the  colored  woman  with 
the  man's  straw  hat  interlarded  her  remarks  with  her  own 
opinions  rendered  in  a  whanging,  chanting  voice.  This 
was  how  it  ran:  "The  churches  have  got  away  from  the 
old  land  marks  [yes,  ma'am;  deed  they  has,  ma'am].  It 
is  hard,  hard  work  to  reach  preachers  [yes,  ma'am;  yes, 
ma'am].  The  big  white  preachers  and  the  colored  preach- 
ers are  nearly  just  as  bad  [O  Lord,  yes;  good  Lord  ye-e-s, 
ma'am.]  They  put  on  plug  hats,  jewelry  and  the  trickery 
of  the  devil.  If  preachers  would  do  their  duty  I  would 
not  have  to  visit  the  penitentiaries.  Oh,  the  hardest  work 
I  have  is  to  preach  to  preachers.  [Dat's  so,  ma'am;  dat's 
so!]  How  many  of  you  are  living  in  lasciviousness,  the 
sin  that's  hidden  but  that  God  sees?  It  is  going  on  in  the 
churches  among  some  of  the  preachers.  [Ah,  yes,  ma'am: 
good  Lord!  Deed'n  'tis,  ma'am].  Ah!  I  have  got  to  go  to 
judgment  and  I  will  tell  you  the  truth.  There  are  other 
sins,  but  I  do  not  want  to  mention  them  because  I  feel  that 
you  know  all  about  them;  but  they  won't  be  hidden  and 
unless  you  have  a  pure  spirit  and  a  clean  heart  you  can 
never  see  the  face  of  God.  Now  say  you  will  sin  no  more. 
[Several  voices  in  alto:  A-a-a-men.]  These  white 
churches,"  proceeded  Mrs.  Wheaton,  "are  a  little  worse 
than  the  colored  churches,  for  there  is  a  little  Holy  Ghost 
left  in  the  Colored  churches.  Oh,  how  many  of  those  white 
church  members  are  going  down  to  hell!  It  grieves  me 


522  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

to  think  of  it.  I'm  going  to  meet  some  of  you  in  glory. 
After  I  get  there  the  first  ones  I  want  to  see  crowned  are 
the  poor  convicts  who  have  been  murdered  on  the  scaffold 
after  they  had  turned  their  faces  to  God,  and  those  poor 
convicts  who  have  suffered,  oh,  you  know  not  how  much, 
how  much,  without  human  sympathy." 

At  this  point  a  sad-looking  man  volunteered  a  hymn, 
during  the  singing  of  which  much  of  Mrs.  Wheaton's  re- 
marks v/ere  drowned.  Mrs.  Wheaton  resumed :  "It  troubles 
my  heart  to  see  the  people  drifting  down,  down  to  hell.  I 
feel  like  getting  down  to  the  foot  of  the  cross  and  crying 
mercy  For  the  attractions  of  this  world  I  have  no  use; 
I  have  no  use  for  newspaper  puffs.  [They's  no  good, 
ma'am-  yes,  ma'am.]'' 

The  way  in  which  the  penitents  chimed  in  as  Mrs. 
Wheaton  proceeded  rendered  it  impossible  to  report  her 
fully.  The  best  that  could  be  done  was  to  catch  sentences 
on  the  fly.  The  stronger  she  appeared  to  her  colored  list- 
eners to  seek  for  mercy  the  longer  they  sought  it.  Their 
bodies  were  moved  by  their  souls.  Some  swayed  from 
side  to  side ; .  others  placed  their  faces  on  their  hands  and 
wept ;  others  wrung  their  hands,  -and  there  was  weeping  and 
wailing 

This  was  the  state  of  affairs  at  the  conclusion  of  the  ad- 
dress. Just  then  Deacon  Banks  started  i  hymn  and  a  few 
others  drifted  off  into  different  familiar  hymns,  so  that 
the  music  was  varied.  It  was  a  spontaneous  outburst  of 
songs  of  praise  from  away  down  in  the  bottom  of  af- 
flicted hearts  which  pays  no  attention  to  the  measures  of 
music.  The  singing  was  awful.  One  female  screeched 
and  no  two  voices  were  in  harmony. 

At  the  conclusion  ot  the  hymn  a  deacon  kneeling  by  a 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  523 

chair  prayed,  striking  the  chair  with  his  fists  while  a  hun- 
dred voices  accompanied  him.  It  was  impossible  to  follow 
him  throughout,  but  among  other  things  he  said :  "I  know 
that  hell  is  broad  and  eternity  too  long.  Oh  King,  King 
Lord  have  mercy  on  us.  Guide  us  by  the  still  water's  side 
and  give  us  new  pastures.  Bless  this  congregation  in  the 
hollow  of  thy  hand,  amen." 

Mrs  Wheaton  informed  the  News  reporter  that  she  will 
not  go  to  Galveston. — Dallas  News. 

PRISON  WORKER  VISITS  TACOMA. 

"MOTHER"  WHEATON  CALLS  AT  COUNTY  JAIL  AND  FEDERAL 
PENITENTIARY. KNOWN  ALL  OVER  THE  WORLD. — 

TWENTY-ONE  YEARS  OF  HER  LIFE  DEVOTED 

TO  LABOR  AMONG  UNFORTUNATES 

OF    MANY    NATIONS. 

"I  trust  in  God  and  the  railroad  men." 

This  is  the  explanation  of  her  ability  to  carry  on  her 
work,  expressed  by  "Mother"  Wheaton,  the  prison  evan- 
gelist, who  has  an  international  reputation  for  her  work  in 
the  penitentiaries  of  the  United  States,  Canada,  Mexico 
and  Europe.  Mother  Wheaton  is  in  Tacoma  carrying  on 
her  work  among  prisoners,  work  that  has  taken  her  into 
every  penitentiary  in  the  United  States  and  Canada.  For 
over  twenty-one  years  she  has  carried  the  gospel  to  the 
men  in  stripes  and  to  those  who  wear  the  broad  arrow  of 
England's  displeasure,  and  it  is  Mother  Wheaton's  boast 
that  during  all  that  time  she  has  never  asked  for  a  con- 
tribution or  received  a  cent  of  salary. 

Mother  Wheaton  came  to  Tacoma  from  her  headquar- 
ters in  Tabor,  la.,  accompanying  Miss  Grace  Yarrette,  a 
young  woman  who  is  going  as  a  missionary  to  India. 

MANY   YEARS   IN   PRISON    WORK. 

There  is  no  woman  in  the  world,  and  perhaps  no  man. 


524 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 


who  has  had  the  prison  experience  of  Mother  Wheaton. 
The  last  twenty  years  of  her  life  have  virtually  been  spent 
inside  prison  walls,  and  there  is  not  many  in  the  country 
in  which  she  is  not  a  familiar  figure.  Long  terms  and  lifers 
all  over  the  land  know  her.  Frequently  she  inquires  for 
some  prisoner  whom  death  or  the  leniency  of  the  law  has 
released,  whom  she  has  not  seen  or  heard  of  for  years. 

Dressed  in  a  soft  gray  suit,  with  a  gray  bonnet,  Mother 
Wheaton's  appearance  is  distinctly  motherly,  and  her  smile 
the  personification  of  kindness  and  tenderness  further  bears 
out  the  "Mother"  by  which  she  is  known  to  thousands  of 
unfortunates.  She  is  the  guest  of  Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Bates, 
12 1 1  North  Prospect  street.  She  is  at  work  from  the  time 
she  arises  in  the  morning  until  services  are  over  in  the 
evening.  While  her  principal  work  is  in  the  prisons  and 
penitentiaries  she  takes  part  in  evangelical  and  religious 
work  and  finds  time  to  visit  rescue  homes  where  her  ad- 
vice is  eagerly  sought. 

MANY    EXPERIENCES. 

"Experiences?"  Mother  Wheaton  exclaimed,  when  asked 
if  her  life  had  not  been  productive  of  many  events  out  of 
the  ordinary  run.  "Experiences,  why  I  have  had  so  many 
and  such  varied  experiences  that  they  are  all  a  jumble  in 
my  head.  I  have  been  in  nearly  every  prison  in  the  land. 
I  have  consoled  men  who  were  but  a  few  feet  from  the 
gallows  and  I  have  held  the  hand  of  those  unfortunates  as 
they  sank  into  their  last  sleep  in  a  cheerless  prison  hos- 
pital. 

"I  have  seen  sights  that  made  my  blood  run  cold  and  then 
I  have  had  the  joy  of  seeing  the  word  of  God  prevail  and 
the  most  case-hardened  sinners  the  human  mind  could  con- 
ceive of  have  reformed  before  me.  It  has  been  a  curious 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  525 

mixture  of  sunshine  and  shadows,  but  after  twenty-one 
years  I  think  1  can  say  that  the  sunshine  has  predominated. 
I  put  my  trust  in  God  for  my  work  and  I  trust  the  railroad 
men  for  transportation,  and  between  the  two  I  believe  I 
have  been  fairly  successful. 

ONCE   TAKEN    FOR   CARRIE    NATION. 

"I  have  spent  nights  in  the  toughest  slums  of  New  York, 
Chicago  and  St.  Louis,  places  where  men  by  force  of  habit 
always  carry  their  hand  near  their  hip  pocket,  and  I  have 
not  always  been  welcomed.  Sometimes  I  have  been  roughly 
handled,  yes,  indeed.  Why,  one  time  I  was  mistaken  for 
Carrie  Nation.  Of  course  I  don't  look  like  Carrie  Nation, 
and  I  would  never  thii.k  of  adopting  smashing  methods.  I 
was  holding  services  in  San  Pedro,  California,  one  night, 
and  went  into  a  saloon.  There  were  two  bright  looking 
young  men  standing  at  the  bar  and  I  asked  them  to  come 
with  me.  The  owner  of  the  saloon  was  sitting  at  a  faro 
table  in  the  back  end  of  the  saloon,  and  as  soon  as  he 
caught  sight  of  me  he  rushed  at  me  and  literally  threw  me 
out  into  the  street. 

"When  he  learned  afterwards  who  I  was  he  was  very 
sorry  and  avowed  that  he  would  never  have  treated  me 
in  that  manner  had  he  not  thought  that  I  was  Carrie  Na- 
tion and  that  I  had  a  hatchet  to  chop  up  his  expensive  bar 
fixtures 

OPPOSES    CAPITAL    PUNISHMENT. 

"As  sad  an  experience  as  1  ever  had  in  my  life  was  my 
effort  to  save  the  life  of  a  young  man  who  was  condemned 
to  hang  in  Colorado.  I  heard  of  the  case  through  the 
young  man's  mother,  who  was  heart-broken.  I  interceded 
with  Governor  Peabody  and  secured  a  reprieve  for  a  year, 
and  when  Governor  McDonald  took  office  he  fixed  the  date 


526  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

for  the  death  of  the  young  man  I  tried  to  save  him  the 
second  time,  but  public  sentiment  demanded  his  death.  I 
don't  believe  in  capital  punishment.  I  have  seen  how  a 
man  can  be  punished  in  prison  and  I  don't  believe  in  taking 
a  life  to  avenge  a  life,  foi  stripped  of  all  the  specious  ar- 
guments which  surround  capital  punishment,  it  simmers 
down  to  nothing  more  than  revenge. 

ESTABLISHES    NEW    RECORD. 

"I  think  I  established  a  prison  visiting  record  upon  one 
trip  I  visited  five  penitentiaries  in  as  many  states  in  a 
week.  I  started  at  Deer  Lodge,  Montana;  from  there  I 
went  to  Boise,  Idaho ;  then  to  Rawlins,  Wyo. ;  then  to  Salt 
Lake  City,  and  from  Salt  Lake  City  to  Lincoln,  Nebraska, 
all  of  which  I  call  pretty  fast  traveling.  I  hold  meetings  on 
the  train,  in  depots,  at  water  tanks,  any  place  I  can  gather 
a  little  knot  of  people  together,  and  1  could  tell  of  some 
queer  conversions  in  out  of  the  way  places,  the  last  places 
in  the  world  where  you  would  expect  the  seed  to  sprout 
and  bear  fruit. 

"I  was  over  to  the  federal  prison  on  McNeil's  Island 
Saturday,  and  this  morning  I  went  to  the  county  hospital. 
This  afternoon  I  called  at  the  county  jail.  I  will  be  here  a 
day  or  so  longer  and  then  must  start  East,  as  I  have  work 
to  do  in  New  York  City.  You  see  I  will  have  to  stop  at 
the  prisons  on  the  way  back  and  I  have  to  make  allow- 
ance«  for  delays." 

Mother  Wheaton  has  become  interested  in  Grace  Russell, 
the  young  woman  in  the  county  jail,  who  is  addicted  to  the 
use  of  morphine.  Mother  Wheaton  will  try  to  secure  a 
place  foi  her  in  some  home. — Tacoma,  Washington,  paper 
of  July  31,  1905. 


OR  A  LAIK)R  OF  LOVE  527 

I  give  the  following  extract  from  a  Baltimore  paper 
published  while  I  was  there  attending  the  Convocation  of 
Prayer  in  that  city,  January,  1903 : 

SPIEITUAL   ADVISEE   OF  FAMOUS   CRIMINALS. 

WORK  OF  "MOTHER"  WHEATON  IN  PRISONS  ALL  OVER  THE  LAND. 

For  twenty  years  Mrs.  Wheaton  has  been  traveling  throughout  the 
United  States,  Europe,  Canada  and  Mexico,  working  among  prison- 
ers in  hundreds  of  prisons  and  penitentiaries.  On  a  number  of  occa- 
sions she  has  converted  criminals  under  death  sentence.  She  has 
preached  in  the  Maryland  Penitentiary. 

Mrs.  Wheaton  came  to  Baltimore  direct  from  Ohio,  where  she  nad 
been  holding  prayer  in  the  cells  of  the  state  prison  with  eight  men 
condemned  to  die.  She  was  in  San  Francisco  a  number  of  years 
ago  when  Alexander  Goldenson  killed  his  sweetheart,  Mamie  Kelly, 
and  after  Goldenson  had  been  tried,  convicted  and  sentenced  to  death 
1  *  Mother ' '  Wheaton  prayed  with  him  for  forty  days.  The  day  of  the 
execution,  September  14,  1888,  he  was  converted  through  her  instru- 
mentality, and  just  before  walking  to  the  gallows  she  tied  her  silk 
handkerchief  about  the  condemned  man's  neck. 

Is  NOT  A  STRANGER. 

OLD-TIMERS     AT     COUNTY     JAIL    GREET     MRS.     WHEATON     AS 
LONG-TIME    FRIEND. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton,  of  Tabor,  la.,  famous  in  this 
and  other  countries  as  a  worker  among  the  inmates  of 
jails  and  penitentiaries,  yesterday  morning  went  to  the 
county  jail  and  prayed  and  sang  hymns  with  the  prisoners 
in  the  tanks. 

Although  her  time  was  very  much  circumscribed,  Mrs. 
Wheaton  shook  hands  with  most  of  the  prisoners,  many 
of  whom  had  heard  of  her,  and  some  of  whom  had  met 
her  in  other  prisons.  John  King,  awaiting  his  transporta- 
tion to  Walla  Walla,  and  one  of  the  most  admittedly  pro- 
fessional criminals  in  the  jail,  stated  that  he  had  met 
"Mother  Wheaton"  several  times  before,  both  at  Salem 
and  at  Walla  Walla. 


528  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Both  he  and  J.  H.  Le  Roy,  another  old-timer,  had  many 
anecdotes  to  tell  of  her  kindnesses  in  past  years. — Paper  of 
August  9,  1905. 

The  above  sketch  was  accompanied  by  a  cut  from  protograph 
taken  by  the  reporter  and  a  nicely  finished  photograph  presented  me. 
From  this  photograph  the  cut  was  made  that  is  inserted  at  the 
beginning  of  this  chapter. — E.  E.  W. 

PRISONERS  ON  BENDED  KNEE. 
INMATES  OF  COUNTY  JAIL  BOW  IN  PRAYER  WITH  MOTHER 

WHEATON. 

On  bended  knees  and  with  low  bowed  heads  nine  pris- 
oners at  the  county  jail  reverently  followed  a  prayer  ad- 
dressed to  the  throne  of  grace  in  their  behalf  yesterday  by 
Mother  Wheaton,  the  noted  prison  evangelist.  Under  the 
remarkable  influence  of  the  woman  who  came  among  them 
as  a  messenger  of  soul-saving,  every  rough  instinct  of  the 
men  was  quelled  and  every  scoffing  word  hushed  on  their 
lips.  No  more  devout  prayer  meeting  was  ever  held  in  a 
sanctuary  than  that  which  took  place  in  the  jail  corridor. 

Mother  Wheaton  and  a  younger  woman  called  upon  the 
prisoners  and  sang  a  song  such  as  the  men  might  have  heard 
their  mothers  or  sisters  sing  in  the  long  ago,  when  their  feet 
had  not  strayed  from  youthful  paths  of  innocence.  If  there 
was  any  inclination  to  ridicule  or  make  light  of  the  service 
at  the  start,  it  was  entirely  subdued  inside  of  five  minutes. 
Mother  Wheaton  talked  to  the  men  and  told  of  the  work 
she  has  been  doing  for  twenty  years  among  the  inmates  of 
jails  and  penitentiaries.  She  declared  that  she  and  her 
assistant  wanted  to  help  save  them. 

There  was  no  hesitation  whatever  when  Mother  Wheaton 
asked  the  prisoners  to  get  down  on  their  knees.  One  and 
all,  the  nine  assumed  the  attitude  of  humble  submission  to 
the  deity  and  remained  in  that  position  until  their  patroness 
had  finished  her  petition  for  the  pardoning  of  their  sins. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  529 

Some  of  the  men  were  seen  to  blink  significantly  and  wipe 
their  eyes  with  handkerchiefs.  When  the  prayer  was  done 
and  another  hymn  rendered,  the  men  joining  in,  hands  were 
shaken  all  around  before  the  visitors  departed. 

Mother  Wheaton  has  been  coming  to  the  Council  Bluffs 
jail  for  several  years.  She  was  in  the  city  on  her  way  from 
Nevada  to  Wisconsin. — Council  Bluffs  Paper. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 
Furnished  unto  Every  Good  Work. 

Who  will  man  the  life-boat,  who  the  storm  will  brave? 
Many  souls  are  drifting  helpless  on  the  wave; 
See  their  hands  uplifted;   hear  their  bitter  cry: 
"Save  us  ere  we  perish,  save  us  ere  we  die!  " 

See!  amid  the  breakers  yonder  vessel  toss'd, 
Onward  to  the  rescue,  haste,  or  all  is  lost; 
Waves  that  dash  around  us  cannot  overwhelm, 
While  our  faithful  Pilot  standeth  at  the  helm. 

Darker  yet,  and  darker  grows  the  fearful  night, 
Sound  the  trump  of  mercy,  flash  the  signal  light; 
Bear  the  joyful  message  o'er  the  raging  wave, 
Christ,  the  heavenly  Pilot,  comes  the  lost  to  save. 

Who  will  man  the  life-boat,  who  will  launch  awayf 

Who  will  help  to  rescue  dying  souls  to-day? 

Who  will  man  the  life-boat,  who  will  breast  the  wave! 

All  its  dangers  braving,  precious  souls  to  save? 

— Sel. 

The  dear  Lord  wants  workers,  both  men  and  women, 
whom  He  can  trust  in  every  line  of  Christian  work,  and 
what  do  Christians  most  need  in  order  to  be  successful  soul- 
winners  for  God? 

First  of  all,  it  is  to  be  born  of  the  Spirit ;  then  to  be  filled 
with  the  Holy  Spirit,  whereby  we  are  sealed  unto  God. 
Then  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit  will  be  manifest  in  our  lives. 
Of  course,  we  should  not  presume  to  go  out  as  mission 
workers  without  a  divine  call  from  God. 

The  first  thing,  then,  is  to  know  God  and  then  to  know 
ourselves  as  utterly  helpless  without  the  cleansing  power 
of  the  blood  of  Christ  on  our  own  souls.  Then  the  especial 
anointing  for  service  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  If  to 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  531 

these  be  added  a  thorough  knowledge  of  human  nature  and 
a  sincere  desire  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  then  the  glory  of 
God  will  be  revealed  in  us  and  we  will  be  forgetful  of  seli 
and  alive  to  the  needs  of  others.  We  must  see  men  and 
women  lost,  going  down  to  eternal  death  and  must  reach 
them  at  any  cost  and  be  willing  to  gladly  suffer  the  loss 
of  all  things  that  we  might  gain  Christ  and  win  souls  for 
Him. 

We  should  acquire  from  the  Lord  the  gift  of  adaptation 
to  any  and  all  kinds  of  work,  people  and  places.  We  must 
see  the  people  from  their  own  standpoint  and  then  from 
God's  standpoint  and  then  have  implicit  confidence  in  God 
and  in  the  power  of  the  blood  of  Jesus  to  cleanse  from  all 
sin.  We  must  be  humble  and  meek  and  yet  strong,  through 
faith  in  God  and  His  promises.  Is  anything  too  hard  for 
the  Lord?  And  has  He  not  told  us,  "Greater  works  than 
these  shall  ye  do  because  I  go  unto  my  Father?"  Is  He 
not  at  the  Father's  right  hand,  interceding  for  us  and  for 
the  souls  to  whom  He  sends  us? 

We  must  be  all  things  to  all  men  that  we  might  win 
some.  We  must  watch  for  opportunities  for  service  and 
be  quick  to  use  them  when  they  are  given  us.  We  must  be 
ready  to  launch  out  into  the  deep  at  the  Master's  com- 
mand. We  must  have  grace,  not  only  to  serve,  but  if  need 
be,  to  die,  in  order  that  souls  might  be  saved — souls  that 
are  going  to  destruction  for  the  want  ot  a  kind  word  or  a 
helping  hand  at  just  the  right  time.  I  have  often  found 
them  upon  the  verge  of  suicide.  Men  and  women  in  de- 
spair, both  in  prison  and  outside,  were  goaded  into  des- 
peration and  the  enemy  of  their  souls  was  urging  them  to 
end  it  all — that  nobody  dared,  and  God  had  forgotten  them. 

How  glad  I  have  been  to  clasp  their  hand  and  tell  them 


532  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

there  was  One  who  cared;  that  He  loved  them  still  and  I 
have  seen  the  long  pent-up  tears  start  from  their  eyes  and 
hope  has  sprung  up  once  more  in  their  desolate  hearts.  I 
hope  to  hear  God  say  in  the  Day  of  Judgment  of  some, 
"Here  are  the  discouraged,  the  tempted  and  tried  ones,  who 
were  almost  lost,  but  who  were  won  through  your  faithful- 
ness." To  God  be  all  the  glory. 

We  must  not  seek  our  own  ease.  Jesus,  in  the  Garden 
of  Gethsemane,  would  have  died  in  agony,  only  that  an  an- 
gel came  and  ministered  unto  Him,  yet  he  prayed,  "Not  My 
will,  but  Thine  be  done.''  Such  must  be  our  heartfelt  cry 
and  we  must  abandon  ourselves  to  God's  will  in  all  things 
and  forgetting  ourselves  and  the  opinions  of  the  World, 
seek  to  please  Him  only.  Then  He  will  make  even  our  ene- 
mies be  at  peace  with  us. 

Multitudes  all  about  us  are  going  down  to  despair  for 
want  of  true  love  such  as  Jesus  had  when  He  said,  "Father, 
forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do,"  and 
"Neither  do  I  condemn  thee;  go  and  sin  no  more." 

Having  this  spirit,  God  has  promised  to  furnish  us  unto 
every  good  work.  That  is,  every  work  to  which  He  calls 
us.  We  each  have  our  responsibility  to  meet,  our  especial 
capability,  our  gift  or  talent.  Then  let  us  adapt  ourselves 
to  the  work  which  God  has  given  us  to  do — not  ignoring  the 
work  of  others,  nor  lording  it  over  God's  heritage,  but  each 
abiding  in  the  calling  wherein  we  are  called,  having  char- 
ity for  all,  whether  saints  or  sinners.  Surely,  with  the  field 
so  wide  and  the  work  so  great,  there  is  the  greatest  need 
for  love  and  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  among  all  Christians. 
Why  there  are  so  many  divisions,  I  know  not.  I  find  true 
and  earnest  hearts  among  all  classes,  all  denominations  and 
all  nationalities. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  533 

Jesus  prayed,  before  He  ascended  on  high,  for  his  chil- 
dren, that  they  all  might  be  one  as  He  and  the  Father  were 
one — one  in  purpose  and  one  in  heart.  If  we  manifest  this 
oneness,  sinners  will  come  flocking  home  to  God  and  souls 
will  be  saved  and  God  will  get  all  the  glory.  The  lack  of 
oneness  among  God's  people  stands  in  the  way  of  souls  and 
the  poor  and  ignorant  are  at  a  loss  as  to  what  to  think  or 
believe. 

Surely,  there  was  never  greater  need  for  Holy  Ghost, 
Spirit-filled  Christian  workers  than  now,  when  false  doc- 
trine is  proclaimed  on  every  side  and  in  every  form.  But 
let  Christians  unite,  losing  sight  of  everything  but  God  and 
souls  and  it  will  not  be  long  until  God  will  fulfill  his  prom- 
ise that  a  nation  shall  be  born  in  a  day.  Oh,  that  there 
might  be  a  rallying  of  all  of  God's  true  children  of  every 
class  and  nationality;  that  they  might,  with  united  forces, 
charge  upon  the  enemy  and  soon  the  world,  which  now 
seems  to  be  at  variance,  would  be  won  for  God  and  for  our 
Christ 

THE  MASSES  ARE  NOT  REACHED  through  the  ordinary 
channels  of  the  churches.  Look  at  the  need  of  the  Gospel 
being  carried  to  the  railroad  and  street-car  men,  the  sol- 
diers, sailors,  policemen,  firemen,  and  postmen.  Are  we 
seeking  to  reach  the  people  ?  We  must  get  the  love  of  God 
in  our  hearts  to  that  degree  that  we  will  not  only  be  willing 
to  suffer,  but  to  die  for  them,  and  mean  it — mean  business, 
and  fast  and  pray  and  call  mightily  on  God  for  help  and 
direction,  and  look  to  Him  for  results.  Don't  expect  an 
easy  time — don't  let  us  expect  to  be  above  our  Master. 
Jesus  had  no  place  to  lay  His  head.  He  went  among  the 
despised,  the  poor,  the  fallen,  the  lowest  of  earth ;  and  if 
He  were  to  return  now,  how  many  of  us  would  He  find 
filling  the  places  appointed  us? 


534  PRISONS    AND    PRAYJiT 

The  Lord  is  ready  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above  all 
we  can  think  or  ask,  and  will  bless  every  unselfish  effort 
on  our  part  to  help  save  a  lost  world.  When  the  end  comes 
for  you  and  me,  dear  one,  let  us  have  our  lamps  trimmed 
and  burning,  ready  to  go  in  to  the  marriage  supper  of  the 
Lamb,  which  is  to  soon  take  place. 

God  help  us  do  our  part,  to  be  instant  in  season  and  out 
of  season ;  to  keep  free  in  our  souls ;  to  be  filled  with  the 
spirit  of  Jesus;  to  be  ever  ready  with  a  kind  word, 
a  "God  bless  you,"  a  silent  prayer,  a  warm  hand- 
clasp. Let  us  be  quick  to  follow  the  leadings  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  humbling  ourselves  under  the  mighty  hand  of  God. 
Let  us  take  a  firmer  hold  on  God  and  be  ourselves  in  His 
hands.  Let  us  see  our  own  responsibility  as  God  sees  it, 
and  by  His  grace  measure  up  to  it. 

Then  the  hosts  of  hell  shall  not  be  able  to  prevail  against 
us  and  God  will  use  us  to  his  glory,  and  with  hearts  filled 
with  love  and  compassion,  we  will  go  forward  and  God 
will  go  with  us  and  give  us  victory. 

MY  BOY   IN  INDIA. 

Some  years  ago  the  Lord  made  plain  to  me  that  I  should 
support  a  famine  orphan  in  India,  and  since  that  time  He 
has  enabled  me  to  give  twenty  dollars  per  year  for  the  sup- 
port of  my  adopted  son,  John  Ryder  Wheaton,  named  for 
my  brother,  who  departed  this  life  a  few  years  ago,  and  for 
myself.  I  give  his  picture  and  a  copy  of  his  first  letter  to 
me,  translated  by  one  of  the  missionaries ;  also  some  letters 
from  Brother  and  Sister  Jarvis,  in  charge  of  the  Orphan- 
age in  Lahore,  India.  We  ask  the  prayers  of  our  readers 
for  this  dear  boy,  and  if  God  should  lay  it  upon  any  of 
your  hearts  to  provide  for  one  of  these  famine  orphans,  any 
money  sent  to  the  Missionary  Home  in  Tabor,  Iowa,  will 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE 


535 


be  promptly  forwarded  to  any  orphanage  or  missionary  you 
may  designate.  God  has  laid  this  boy  upon  my  heart,  and 
the  tie  is  dearer,  perhaps,  because  I  am  alone  in  the  world, 
having  laid  my  only  child  in  the  grave  with  my  husband. 
My  heart  was  touched  when  I  received  this  letter  from 
John's  own  hand,  and  sometimes  I  long  to  see  and  know 


I 


; 


m 


JOHN   RYDER   WHEATON,   INDIA     FAMINE  BOY. 

him  for  myself.  He  is  being  trained  for  a  missionary,  and 
when  my  labors  are  ended,  I  hope  to  see  him  coming  home 
from  India,  bringing  his  trophies  with  him — precious  souls 
from  his  own  native  land,  and  that  there  we  may  praise 
the  Lord  through  all  eternity  together. 


536  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Lahore,  Frontier  Faith  Mission,  April  12,  1904. — Dear 
Mama : — Salam,  I  am  well  by  the  grace  of  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  hope  you  are  well.  Matter  is  this  that  I  live 
here  very  happy,  few  days  ago  that  the  fever  and  cough  at- 
tacked me  so  I  went  to  the  hospital,  now  1  am  well  and  do 
my  duty.  I  learned  the  work  of  Gardener.  I  pray  every 
day.  May  God  help  me  and  make  me  His  true  Christian 
and  grant  me  abundant  grace.  I  also  hope  that  you  do 
pray  for  me.  I  pray  for  you.  Here  are  all  well.  I  am  also 
with  other  boys  well.  My  compliment  to  you, 

Your  son, 

JOHN  WHEATON, 
Head  Gardener. 


Frontier  Faith  Mission  and  Orphanage,  Lahore,  N.  In- 
dia, Dec.  n,  1901. — Dear  Sister  Wheaton — We  have  cho- 
sen for  you  a  bright  little  boy  by  the  name  of  Ruthena, 
about  ten  years  old.  He  is  one  of  our  brightest  little  boys, 
one  that  bids  fair  to  be  something  for  God.  He  is  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade  and  is  doing  well  at4t.  We  are  endeavor- 
ing to  teach  the  boys  trades,  wanting  them  to  be  like  Paul 
where  they  can  preach  the  Gospel  while  they  make  tents 
for  a  living.  Ruthena  is  a  bright  boy  in  every  way  and 
will  be  named  John  Ryder  as  you  wished  We  do  not  have 
time  to  write  often  but  our  hearts  are  with  you. 
Yours  for  India's  redemption, 

LAURA  E.  JARVIS. 

Lahore,  N  India,  Sept.  18,  1902. — My  Dear  Sister — 
Your  dear  boy  is  healthy  and  well.  He  is  such  a 
help,  and  seems  to  know  just  what  to  do  at  the  right  time. 
We  feel  that  we  can  count  on  him  at  all  times.  He  is  a 
precious  Christian  boy,  and  God  is  using  him. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  537 

God  is  blessing  our  precious  children,  and  the  work  i<» 
going  forward.  We  are  so  glad  to  be  on  our  own  land. 
Our  homes  are  only  temporary,  but  our  faith  is  in  God  for 
the  permanent  ones.  He  says  no  good  thing  will  He  with- 
hold from  them  that  walk  uprightly. 

Your  Sister  seeking  the  lost, 

L.  E.  J. 

Lahore,  North  India,  August  20,  1903. — Dear  Sister 
Wheaton — Your  kind  offering  of  twenty  dollars  for  the, 
support  of  your  boy,  John,  is  very  thankfully  received. 
The  Lord  bless  and  repay  you  Continue  to  pray  for  him, 
and  for  the  rest  of  our  great  family.  God  is  hearing  prayer 
for  us.  There  are  some  slight  fever  cases  among  the  chil- 
dren. This  is  our  sickly  season.  Unite  in  prayer  that  our 
workers  may  keep  well.  We  are  all  burdened  because  of 
the  lack  of  workers  and  much  has  to  remain  undone. 

Though  burdened,  we  will  stand  at  our  post  until  Jesus 
comes.  (R.  V.)  Our  faith  is  in  God.  So  many  young 
people  at  home  seem  to  be  wasting  their  lives  and  talents, 
when  they  might  be  doing  so  much  for  God  in  this  land. 

Your  brother  seeking  the  lost, 

ROBERT  JARVIS. 

Lahore,  N.  India,  March  16,  1904. 

My  Dear  Sister  Wheaton — Greetings  in  Jesus'  name. 
"Lift  up  your  eyes,  and  look  on  the  fields,  for  they  are  white 
already  to  harvest." 

I  write  to  tell  you  today  that  your  boy  John  is  quite  poor- 
ly He  has  been  having  an  attack  of  lung  fever.  I  believe 
that  in  answer  to  prayer  God  will  raise  him  up.  I  felt  he 
would  have  better  care  in  the  hospital  than  we  could  give 
him,  so  we  took  him  there,  but  we  go  to  see  him  frequently, 
and  I  will  keep  you  posted  as  to  how  he  is  doing.  I  know 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

you  are  interested  and  are  praying  for  him.  We  thank  you 
much  for  your  interest,  and  all  you  are  doing  for  him.  I 
hope  you  are  keeping  well  and  seeing  souls  saved. 

John  was  a  real  help  in  the  garden  outside  of  school 
hours.  He  has  always  been  a  willing  little  worker.  God 
bless  you  much,  dear  Sister  Wheaton,  and  use  you  greatly, 
is  our  prayer. 

Your  sister, 

L.  E.  JARVIS. 

Lahore,  N.  India,  April  12,  1904. 

My  Dear  Sister  Wheaton — Greeting  in  Jesus'  name.  I 
am  glad  to  write  you  this  time  that  John  is  all  right  again. 
I  think  his  sickness  has  drawn  him  closer  to  God.  He  is 
writing  you  a  few  lines  that  I  will  translate  for  him  and 
send  it  with  this.  Yours  to  be  faithful, 

L.  E.  JARVIS. 

PREACHING    IN    THE   PEST-HOUSE. 

Just  why  the  dear  Lord  saw  best  to  permit  me  to  take 
the  loathsome  disease  of  smallpox  into  my  system,  I  know 
not ;  but  I  do  know  the  same  God  that  made  man  and  pro- 
nounced him  very  good,  permitted  Job  and  many  others  of 
His  people  to  suffer  many  things.  Of  one  thing  I  am  cer- 
tain, the  Lord  permitted  me  to  preach  the  Gospel  in  the 
pest-house.  No  one  was  allowed  there  but  the  physician 
of  the  Board  of  Health  and  those  in  charge,  and  there  were 
many  lost  ones  there  and  no  gospel  services  for  years  and 
not  even  the  superintendent  and  his  family  were  allowed  to 
go  to  church.  I  had  held  meetings  in  almost  every  other  place 
and  I  now  had  opportunity  to  go  there,  this  being  the  only 
way  to  get  to  them.  During  the  summer  of  1901  I  was 
taken  very  ill  and  the  sixth  doctor  pronounced  the  disease 
smallpox.  There  was  no  alternative  but  to  prepare  for  the 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  539 

hospital,  which  I  did  unaided.  This  was  remarkable ;  for 
I  had  been  very  near  death,  the  suffering  both  mentally  and 
physically  was  so  intense  and  the  agony  so  great.  Surely 
God  heard  the  prayers  of  His  believing  ones  and  raised  me 
up  to  once  more  go  forth  to  glorify  His  name  by  preach- 
ing His  gospel  and  singing  His  praises.  Bless  His  holy 
name! 

I  was  hedged  in  with  God.  He  got  the  glory  of  my 
healing.  I  bless  the  Lord  that  in  answer  to  prayer  He 
never  let  one  person  take  the  disease  from  me  that  we 
knew  of.  When  leaving  the  minister's  home  where  I  was 
taken  sick,  I  was  shouting  and  praising  the  Lord.  I  told 
the  mission  workers  I  was  sure  I  could  go  to  Heaven  even 
from  the  pest-house,  with  the  smallpox.  I  told  the  young 
sister  with  me  to  bring  the  tracts  for  service  in  the  hospital. 
I  had  told  her  that  morning  that  there  would  be  several 
doctors  call  and  hold  a  consultation  and  pronounce  the  dis- 
ease smallpox  and  they  would  take  me  to  the  pest-house, 
and  I  expected  I  would  die  there.  I  had  such  victory  in 
my  soul  that  I  just  shouted  and  praised  the  Lord. 

In  the  hospital  I  was  given  the  privilege  of  all  the  wards 
to  sing  and  pray  and  talk  with  the  patients.  Some  were  in 
a  very  dangerous  condition,  and  others  convalescent. 
Others  were  trembling  with  fear,  having  been  exposed  and 
quarantined  here  to  protect  the  public  from  contagion. 
Those  were  weeks  of  suffering,  although  full  of  service  and 
song.  The  hymns  were  listened  to  with  the  greatest  delight 
even  by  foreigners  who  could  not  understand  our  language. 
I  often  wonder  why  professing  Christians  are  not  as  care- 
ful about  the  spread  of  sin  as  people  are  about  the  trans- 
mitting of  disease.  The  same  day  I  left  the  hospital  the 
Lord  sent  me  out  on  a  long  journey  to  preach  the  gospel 


54O  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

on  the  train.  As  I  was  talking  with  the  conductor,  there 
was  a  sudden  stop  and  he  ran  to  find  the  cause.  Our  en- 
gine had  become  disabled  on  a  bridge,  and  as  a  train  was 
coming  behind  us,  the  trainmen  ran  to  flag  the  coming 
train  before  it  should  overtake  us;  but  it  was  too  late.  I 
dropped  on  my  knees  on  the  platform  of  the  rear  car  and 
asked  God  to  spare  our  lives.  I  arose,  took  in  the  situa- 
tion, went  to  my  seat  in  the  center  of  the  car  and  again 
knelt  in  prayer.  I  turned  to  look  just  as  the  engine  struck 
our  car,  raising  it  about  five  feet  in  the  air,  crushing  tim- 
bers and  glass,  and  causing  a  panic  among  the  passengers. 
I  was  blest  of  God  through  it  all,  and  went  immediately  to 
work  holding  meetings  while  we  waited  some  hours  for 
help  to  come.  I  see  so  plainly  the  hand  of  the  Lord  in  all 
this.  I  might  have  left  the  train  when  on  the  rear  platform, 
but  I  felt  impressed  to  stay  with  those  on  board  and  call  on 
God  for  help.  Do  you  wonder  that  when  all  our  lives  were 
spared  I  felt  that  as  the  Lord  gave  all  on  the  ship  into 
Paul's  hands,  so  in  this  case,  as  in  many  others,  the  wise 
Master  gave  me  those  who  traveled  with  me  ?  "As  thy  days 
so  shall  thy  strength  be."  "A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy 
side  and  ten  thousand  at  thy  right  hand,  but  it  shall  not 
come  nigh  thee." 

HOW    THE   LORD    PROVIDES. 

One  night  in  San  Francisco  while  holding  a  meeting  in 
the  Old  Adelphi  Theater,  I  was  impressed  to  give  a  dollar 
to  a  sister  who  often  sang  and  exhorted  in  our  service  and 
who  assisted  me  that  night.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting  I 
handed  her  a  silver  dollar.  She  seemed  much  surprised  and 
said,  "No,  I  should  not  take  this  from  you."  I  told  her 
God  showed  me  to  give  her  that  dollar  and  I  must  obey 
Him ;  so  she  took  the  money. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  541 

The  next  day,  while  waiting  for  the  street  car  on  a  pub- 
lic thoroughfare,  I  saw  a  man  giving  out  ladies'  fashion 
plates.  I  spoke  kindly  to  him  and  suggested  how  much 
more  good  he  could  do  by  giving  out  tracts.  He  replied 
that  that  was  the  way  he  made  his  living — that  the  firm 
paid  him  for  his  services.  1  told  him  that  God  would  care 
for  him  if  he  only  trusted  and  served  Him,  but  he  evidently 
thought  me  somewhat  of  a  fanatic.  Just  then  a  well- 
dressed  old  gentleman  spoke  to  me  and  said,  "Do  you  be- 
long to  the  Salvation  Army?"  I  said  that  I  did  not  and 
he  then  asked,  ""What  is  your  work  ?"  I  answered,  "I  am 
a  missionary  to  the  prisoners  and  lost  girls."  He  handed 
me  a  dollar  and  hurried  on.  The  man  with  whom  I  had 
been  speaking  looked  on  surprised  and  said,  "Who  was 
that  man?"  I  said,  "I  do  not  know;  I  never  saw  him  be- 
fore and  may  never  see  him  again."  He  was  evidently 
thinking,  for  I  had  told  him  that  God  provided  for  me  and 
would  provide  for  him  if  he  would  but  work  for  Him,  and 
God  was  giving  him  an  object  lesson.  I  said,  ''I  believe 
the  Lord  sent  that  man  to  convince  you  that  what  I  said 
was  true  for  I  never  ask  any  person  for  money,  but  trust 
all  to  Providence." 

Going  on  my  way  later  in  the  day,  outside  the  city  where 
I  changed  cars,  I  saw  hurrying  toward  me  the  same  man 
who  had  given  me  the  dollar  in  the  morning.  He  said, 
"I  have  been  thinking  all  day  about  you  and  what  you  said 
and  here  is  another  dollar  for  you,"  I  told  him  how  I  felt 
God  had  used  him  to  convince  the  fashion  plate  man,  that 
if  we  fully  trust  and  serve  the  Lord  He  will  provide  for  us. 
I  have  never  seen  either  of  these  men  again  since  that  .day, 
but  God  sent  me  the  two  dollars  in  place  of  the  one  dollar 
I  had  given  that  poor  woman  the  night  before,  in  the  meet- 
ing. 


542  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

The  sequel  was  given  me  sometime  after  this  when  I 
again  met  that  poor  sister.  She  said  to  me,  "Sister 
Wheaton,  I  want  to  tell  you  about  the  dollar  you  gave  me 
that  night  in  the  meeting,"  and  then  she  said :  "I  had  noth- 
ing in  my  house  for  my  children  to  eat  (there  was  a  large 
family  of  them),  and  husband  was  out  of  work.  I  had  to 
wash  next  day  and  had  neither  soap  nor  starch,  and  I  had 
to  go  across  the  city  to  pray  for  a  sick  woman,  whose  son 
had  said  that  he  would  believe  in  God  and  serve  him  if  his 
mother  were  healed  in  answer  to  prayer.  I  had  to  take 
that  young  man  with  me  and  pay  his  car  fare  and  my  own. 
The  mother  was  healed  and  the  young  man,  being  con- 
vinced, yielded  himself  to  God  and  was  converted  and  be- 
came a  Christian."  And  then  she  added,  "All  this  your  dol- 
lar did,  for  I  had  prayed  God  to  send  me  a  dollar  that  night 
and  you  obeyed  God  and  see  what  was  accomplished 
through  obedience  to  the  God  who  hears  the  ravens  when 
they  cry  and  notes  the  sparrow's  fall." 

Then  I  related  to  her  my  experience  to  show  how  the 
Lord  used  a  stranger  to  return  me  double,  or  two  dollars 
instead  of  one,  and  perhaps  saved  two  men — for  God  was 
evidently  dealing  both  with  the  stranger  who  gave  me  the 
money  and  with  the  one  with  whom  I  was  speaking  on  the 
street. 

MISCELLANEOUS  INCIDENTS. 

I  was  once  called  upon  to  minister  to  the  needs  of  a 
woman  who  was  burned  almost  to  death.  I  assisted  the 
doctor  as  best  I  could  to  dress  the  burns.  I  took  the  scis- 
sors and  cut  the  loose  flesh  from  her  arm,  and  held  her 
while  the  doctor  filed  the  rings  from  her  hands. 

If  I  had  not  been  previously  convinced"  by  the  Scriptures 
of  the  folly  of  wearing  rings  I  think  this  awful  sight  would 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  543 

have  been  sufficient  to  satisfy  any  doubts  in  my  mind,  as 
they  cut  so  cruelly  deep  into  the  charred  and  swollen  flesh. 
She  finally  passed  away  to  that  land  where  there  shall  be 
no  more  death,  neither  sorrow,  nor  crying,  neither  shall 
there  be  any  more  pain. 


While  being  entertained  at  a  certain  place  a  few  years 
ago,  a  caller  was  announced  one  evening,  to  see  "Mother 
Wheaton."  Entering  the  parlor  a  tall,  handsome  man, 
dressed  in  the  uniform  of  a  policeman,  advanced  to  greet 
me.  I  bowed  politely,  but  perhaps  a  little  distantly,  as  I 
did  not  know  him.  He  came  forward  and  extended  his 
hand  cordially,  saying,  "Don't  you  know  me,  Mother?"  I 

said,  "No,  I  do  not  know  you."    He  said  I  sang  in 

prison  in  the  choir.  I  served  a  term  there  and  heard  you 
sing  and  preach  there.  This  is  my  daughter,"  and  he  pre- 
sented a  nice  looking  young  lady  who  was  with  him.  He 
said  he  now  held  a  responsible  position  and  was  getting 
along  nicely,  and  invited  me  to  come  and  visit  his  family. 


While  holding  meetings  in  a  little  town  in  one  of  the 
southern  states,  I  was  entertained  at  the  home  of  a  wealthy 
man  who  was  accused  of  crime.  He  had  a  beautiful  wife 
and  lovely  children.  I  was  greatly  troubled  about  his  con- 
dition. I  held  meetings  there  in  the  home.  I  waa  created 
very  kindly  and  cordially  welcomed,  but  he  would  not  yield 
to  God.  I  warned  him  faithfully,  and  plead  with  him  to 
repent  of  his  sins  and  become  a  Christian.  I  told  him  that 
a  terrible  calamity  awaited  him  if  he  did  not  yiefd  himself 
to  the  Lord.  I  went  away  believing  it  was  his  last  chance 
of  salvation.  Not  long  after  that  he  laid  in  wait  to  kill  a 
man  against  whom  he  had  had  a  grudge  for  some  time ;  but 
the  other  man  seeing  his  intention,  drew  his  revolver  and 


544 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 


fired  in  self-defence.  The  man  fell  dead.  He  had  had 
his  last  call.  He  had  rejected  the  Lord  and  was  ushered  into 
eternity  without  a  moment's  warning 

One  day  years  ago,  in  M ,  Mississippi,  I  went  on 

the  street  to  hold  a  meeting.  A  policeman  came  along  and 
forbade  me  after  I  had  begun  to  sing,  saying  it  was  against 
the  law  to  hold  religious  services  on  the  street.  My  spirit 
was  grieved  as  I  felt  the  Lord  had  a  work  for  me  to  do 
among  the  poor  and  lowly  who  were  too  poorly  clad  to  at- 
tend church  services.  A  sister  (a  woman  of  God  who  en- 
tertained me)  was  with  me  She  then  proposed  taking  me 
to  see  a  sick  child,  an  infant.  When  we  reached  the  house 
we  found  the  young  parents  weeping  over  their  dying  child. 
My  heart  was  touched  with  sympathy,  and  kneeling  down 
I  asked  Him  who  said,  "Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto 
me,"  to  heal  the  child  for  His  glory.  I  believed  His  word 
where  it  says,  "The  prayer  of  faith  shall  save  the  sick." 
My  faith  touched  divinity,  the  child  was  healed  and  the 
young  parents,  seeing  the  power  of  God  manifested,  were 
converted,  and  gave  their  lives  to  God  for  His  service. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 
Selections  from  My  Scrap  Book. 

Many  of  the  selections  given  in  this  chapter  were  written 
by  prisoners  and  given  me  by  them.  The  others  may  not 
all  be  new  to  the  reader,  but  I  have  thought  them  of  suf- 
ficient value  to  thus  preserve,  as  they  may  be  reread  with 
profit,  and  no  doubt  may  be  read  here  by  many  who  have 
not  seen  them  elsewhere.  Such  will  surely  feel  the  time 
it  takes  to  read  them  well  spent. 

Many  of  the  songs  I  have  sung  are  not  in  print  here,  as 
the>  are  familiar  or  may  be  found  in  popular  books ;  others 
I  thought  might  be  copyrighted  and  I  do  not  know  the 
owner,  etc.  I  have  not  meant  to  use  any  copyright  selec- 
tions without  procuring  the  right  to  do  so,  but  if  through 
mistake  any  have  been  used  I  shall  be  glad  to  make  due 
requital. 

THE    AUTHOR    OF    FLOWER    MISSION    DAY. 

I  once  visited  this  sister,  a  saint,  meekly  lying  upon  her 
bed,  and  when  I  asked  if  she  would  like  for  Jesus  to  heal 
her,  she  said  God  could  use  her  better  in  that  condition. 

E.  R.  W. 

Jennie  Cassady  was  born  in  Louisville,  Kentucky,  June  9,  1840. 
She  came  to  earth  through  no  royal  line  of  ancestry.  No  booming 
cannon  and  flying  flags  proclaimed  the  birth  of  a  princess.  No 
jeweled  hand  beckoned  her  to  a  place  of  rank  and  title.  Nothing 
in  babyhood  or  girlhood  distinguished  her  above  what  is  visible  in 
ten  thousand  homes  to-day.  But  as  she  stepped  over  the  threshold 
into  womanhood,  there  fell  upon  her  a  great  calamity — a  cruel  acci- 
dent made  her  a  cripple  and  an  invalid  for  life.  But  in  her  afflic- 
tions she  arose  to  a  sublimity  and  sweetness  of  soul  that  has  chal- 
lenged the  admiration  of  two  continents.  And  out  of  the  awful 
shadows  that  fell  upon  her  she  has  gathered  up  the  sunbeams  of 
God's  smiles  and  scattered  them  into  the  dark  places  of  earth.  Out 
of  that  one  little  darkened  room  in  Kentucky  there  has  gone  forth 
an  inspiration  that  has  fired  the  heart  of  heroic  Christian  woman- 
hood. And  out  of  the  darkness  that  smote  her  pathway  leaped  the 


54$  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

lances  of  light  that  pierca  the  gloom  of  prison  walls.  A  gleam  from 
that  radiant  life  touches  the  poet's  fancy,  and  gives  us  these  beau- 
tiful lines.  J.  M.  CROCKER, 

Prison  Chaplain. 

FLOWER  DAY  AT  THE  PRISON. 

Composed   and   read   by   F.    L.    Platt   at   the   Iowa    State    Prison    at 
Anamosa,  June  9th,   1894. 

In  a  cottage  in  Kentucky, 

In  the  years  that  have  gone  by, 
Was  a  woman,  oh,  so  lonely, 

She'd  been  given  up  to  die. 

As  she  lay  upon  her  sick  bed, 

Ere  the  spark  of  life  had  flown, 
Neighbors  called,  and  strangers  also, 

Whom  before  she  had  not  known. 

They  had  heard  of  her  misfortune, 

Day  and  night  she  lingered  there; 
And  to  make  her  life  more  cheerful 

Seemed  to   be  their  every  care. 

Now  they  come,  with  noiseless  footsteps, 

As  the  rose  is  kissed  with  dew, 
Each  one  bringing  in  some  sunshine, 

In   "these  flowers   I've  brought   for  you." 

As  she  looked  into  their  faces, 

Realizing  death  had  come, 
"Take  these  flowers,"  she  said,  "I'm  dying," 

They  will  brighten  other  homes. 

Take  them,  give  them  to  the  children 

Who   in   orphans '  homes   are   found, 
Who  have  parents  silent  sleeping 

Underneath  some  grassy  mound. 

Take  them,  place  them  by  the  bedside 

Of  some  one  whose  life  is  drear; 
They  will  bring  a  ray  of  sunshine, 

They  will  drive  away  a  tear. 

Take  them,  bear  them  to  the  prison, 

Where  the  trembling  convict  stands; 
They'll  encourage  and  they'll  cheer  him, 

And  they'll  help  him  be  a  man. 

They  will  speak  to  him  of  Heaven, 
Of  a  home  with  God  above; 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  549 

They'll  dispel  the  gloom  and  heartache, 
They'll  recall  a  mother's  love. 

They'll  remind   him  of  a   sister, 

With  youth  's  bloom  upon  her  brow, 
With  whom  he  used  to  gather  flowers 

When  life  was  bright  as  yours  is  now. 

They  '11  recall  some  little  sweetheart 

In  the  early  spring  of  life, 
Who,  when  summer  flowers  were  blooming, 

He  had  asked  to  be  his  wife. 

Oh,  that  wife!  may  God's  own  blessing 

Best  upon  her  loyal  head; 
Though  he's  caused  her  many  a  heartache, 

She  would  love  him  were  he  dead. 

Then  with  all  these  sacred  memories 

Welling  in  these  hearts  of   ours, 
Who  in  all  this  land  of  sunshine 

Could  forbid  this  gift  of  flowers'? 

Bring  the  flowers  with  sweetest  perfume, 

This  is  flower  mission  day; 
Some  forlorn,  discouraged  prisoner, 

"You  may  rescue,  you  may  save." 

Blest  the  home  that  knows  no  sorrow, 

Blest  that  wife,  whose  tears  are  joy, 
Blest  that  mother  who  in  old  age, 

Can  lean  upon  her  darling  boy. 

Men,  look  up,  the  clouds  have  gathered, 

Some  of  them  are  silver-lined; 
There  's  a  day  when  all  creation 

Will  be  marshalled  into  line. 

When  these  prison  walls  are  sundered- 

When  the  grave  gives  up  its  de"a, 
All  may  march  the  streets  of  Heaven 

Who  by  Jesus  Christ  are  led. 

LINKS  BY  A  PRISONER  TO  HIS  WIFE. 
These  lines  were  handed  me  by  the  author.    I  insert  them 
here  because  of  their  clear  testimony  to  the  saving  grace  of 
God  and  the  love  they  manifest  for  wife  and  children: 

Dearest  wife,  you  know  I  love  thee, 
Deep  as  yonder  sky; 


550  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 


Know  that  love  can  never  fade, 
Affection  never  die. 

Though  in  prison  I  am  cast, 

And  cannot   now  return, 
Yet  on  thee  my  love  reclines, 

For  thee  my  heart  will  burn. 

God  has  made  us  one  indeed, 

In  ways  the  world  can  never  know. 

One,  like  drops  of  water  found 
Within  the  pure  white  snow. 

God  has  made  us  one  indeed; 

Has  joined  us,  hand  and  heart; 
What  God  has  joined  together,  wife, 

Let  no  man  put  apart. 

As  well  might  men  uproot  the  earth 

As  by  their  scoff  or  scorn 
Think  to   accomplish  parting  us 

Because  our  hearts  now  mourn. 

Nay,  dear  wife,  I  feel  for  thee, 

As  ne'er  I  felt  before, 
Prizing  thee  with  deeper  strength 

For  pining  sad  and  sore. 

While  there  you  wait  my  glad  release, 

The  day  that  sets  me  free, 
Await  my  coming  home  to  wife; 

Yes,  wife  and  children  three. 

And  I  will  come.     Have  patience,  wife. 

The  time  will  wear  away, 
And  day  by  day  approaches  near 

That  glad  releasing  day. 

With  little  baby  in  your  arms, 

Two  others  at  your  knee; 
I  know,  dear  wife,  your  heart  is  sad 

And  longs  to  see  me  free. 

To  help  you  in  your  daily  toil; 

To  earn  for  them  their  bread; 
To  clothe  and  help  and  comfort  them, 

And  find  a  shelter  for  each  head. 

But  cheer  up,  wife,  and  so  will  I, 

As  mankind  surely  may, 
Till  darkness  fade  in  morning  light 

That  ushers  in  the  day. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  55  l 

And  oh,  what  joy  will  visit  us, 

What  peace  in  that  glad  hour; 
Our   home   shall   then   renew   its  strength 

In  all  its  silent  power. 

Here  as  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep, 

In  my   narrow   little   cell, 
I  think  of  the  happy  times  we've  spent 

In  the  shady  wooded  dell. 

How  we  plucked  the  flowers  beside  our  path, 

And  strolled  along  the  stream, 
Neither   feeling  aught  of  sorrow, 

For  life  was  like  a  pleasant  dream. 

But  alas,  my  dear  one,  all  is  changed; 

And  we  are  parted  now  for  years; 
But  well  we  know  that  God  will  come 

And  wipe  away  our  falling  tears. 

Sin,  dear  wife,  hast  brought  the  change; 

Sin  has  caused  our  grief  and  pain; 
But  now  that  I  trust  in  Jesus 

I  will  never  fall  again. 

In  my  very  darkest  moments 

Would  you  know  what  comforts  me? 
'Tis  my  living  faith  in  Jesus, 

In  Him  who  died  on  Calvary. 

He  died  on  the  cross  for  you,  dear  wife,        7 

His  precious  blood  was  shed  for  me; 
All  our  sins  on  Him  were  laid 

When  they  nailed  Him  to  the  tree. 

And  now  that  blessed  Saviour, 

Who  was  born  at  Bethlehem, 
Looks  down  from  the  heights  of  heaven 

On  the  sinful  souls  of  men. 

His  thoughts  are  full  of  mercy, 

His  heart  is  filled  with  love. 
He  is  pleading  with  the  Father 

That  we  might  come  above. 

So  we  will  trust  our  Saviour, 

And  follow  where  He  leads; 
And  say,  in  faith  believing, 

He'll  provide  for  all  our  needs. 

So  we'll  walk  close  beside  Him 
And  let  Him  take  our  hand; 


552  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

As  He  points,  with  face  all  shining, 
To  that  bright  and  happy  land. 

And  oft  to  others  round  us 

The  story  we  will  tell, 
How  Jesus  Christ  saves  sinners, 

The  heavenly  hosts  to  swell. 

You  will  tell  them,  wife,  how  He  found  me, 

Sinful  and  all  cast  down, 
And  hew  through  love  He  raised  me  up 

And  promised  me  a  crown. 

And  when  we  see  still  others 

Caught  in  Satan 's  snare, 
We'll  lead  them  on  to  Jesus, 

And  leave  them  in  His  care. 

And  when  He  treats  them  gently, 

As  He  treats  both  you  and  me, 
Other  sinners,  looking  on, 

To  His  bosom  soon  will  flee. 

For  thus  the  world  around  us 

For  Christ  could  soon  be  won; 
He'll  end  in  glorious  triumph 

The  work  He  has  begun. 

All  glory  then  to  Jesus! 

Sing  praises  to  His  name! 
He  saved  lost  sinners  years  gone  by, 

And  today  He'll  do  the  same. 

In  language  very  simple 

I've  told  to  you,  dear  wife, 
My  love  to  you,  your  love  to  me, 

And  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ. 

So  we'll  just  keep  on   trusting 

In  the  Saviour  GcJ  lias  given; 
And  He  will  fill  with  peace 

Our  journey  on  to  heaven. 

And  we'll  not  forget  the  Father, 

But  give  thanks  for  all  He's  done, 
In  giving  us  our  Saviour, 

In  His  own  beloved  Son. 

WOMAN'S  LOVE. 

TO    MRS.    WHEATON. 

These  lines  are  most  respectfully  presented  as  a  prisoner's  tribute 
of  sincere  respect: 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  553 

O,  woman's  love,  past  understanding! 

So  near  to  God's,  so  wondrous  deep: 
Deep  as  the  depths  of  space ;  expanding 

Till  it  blooms  beyond  death's  mystic  sleep 

Throughout  the  earth,  the  rich  and  lowly 

It  reigns  supreme  within  her  breast. 
O,  woman's  love!   through  its  beauty  holy 

She   will  win  eternal   rest. 

Born  of  woman,  purest,  dearest 

Lily  of   fair  Bethlehem, 
Christ  to  her  will  be  the  nearest 

In  his  bright  home — Jerusalem. 

A  fadeless  flower  in  beauty  blooming 

'Midst  heaven's  host  of  immortelles. 
His  peerless  love  her  soul  perfuming 

She'll  reign  a  queen  mid  arch  angels 

Cole  City,  Ga.,  Sunday  night,  Nov.  17,  1889. 

TAKE  THIS  MESSAGE  TO  MY  MOTHER. 
(Written  by  a  Prisoner  in  Jackson,  Miss.) 

Take  this  message  to  my  mother, 

It  will  fill  her  heart  with  joy; 
Tell  her  that  her  prayer  is  answered, 

Christ  has  saved  her  wandering  boy: 

Tho'   through    sin   from  home    I've   wandered, 

And  I  almost  broke  her  heart; 
Tell  her  to  be  glad  and  cheerful, 

Never  from  the   Lord  I'll  part. 

CHORUS. 
Take  this  message  to  my  mother, 

It  will  fill  her  heart  with  joy; 
Tell  her  that  her  prayer  is  answered, 

Christ  has  saved  her  wandering  boy. 

How  she  wept  when  last  we  parted, 
How  her  heart  did  ache  with  pain 

When  she  said:     " Good-bye,  God  bless  you, 
We  may  never  meet   again." 

O  my  boy,  just  look  to  Jesus, 

What  a  friend  Ho  is  to  all! 
Only  trust  Him,  He  will  save  you — 

Can't  you  hear  His  sweet  voice  call? 

In  this  world  of  sin  fire  many 

Who   have  wandered   far   from  God. 


554  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Will   your    mother's   prayers   be   answered? 
Listen,  sinner,  you,  her  boy. 

You  have  ofttimes  heard  this  warning, 
•     In  your  heart  conviction's  deep; 
God  is  calling  to  the  wanderer 
Who  asks  mercy  at  his  feet. 

NOT  LONELY   NOW. 

I  am  not  lonely,  mother,  now, 

Though    far   from   me   you   roam. 
One   dried  my   tears   and   smoothed   my    brow. 

And  stilled  the  sob  and  groan. 
I   am  not   lonely,   mother,   dear, 
For  Jesus  dwells  with  me,  e'en  here. 

All  day  I  feel  Him  by  my  side; 

And  when  betimes  would  come 
The  Evil  One,  I  quickly  hide 

Behind  my  Precious  One. 
Think  you  I  'm  lonely,  mother,  dear, 
When  Jesus  thus  is  ever  near? 

And  when  at  night  I  think  of  thee, 

As  in  my  cell  I  sit, 
Bright  vision  of  thy  form  I  see 

By  His  own  presence  lit. 
Can  I  be  lonely,  mother,  dear, 
When  thy  pure  spirit  is  so  near? 

Farewell,  my  darling  mother-friend, 

And  if  for  aye,  Oh !  fare  thee  well ! 
Whate'er  betide,  unto  the  end, 

Christ's  love  for  me  I'll  gladly  tell. 

The  following  was  written  by  a  young  brother  who,  with 
his  wife,  were  with  me  for  a  time  in  my  work.  In  thanking 
them  for  a  kindness  done  me  I  used  the  words,  "Jesus  is 
looking  on,"  implying  that  He  would  reward  them.  Only 
an  hour  or  so  afterward  the  young  brother  handed  me  these 
lines,  suggested  by  my  words: 

Little  did  I  think  when  I  spoke  the  words  that  thev  would 
make  so  deep  an  impression  upon  his  mind.  How  little  we 
realize  what  a  word  may  do. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  555 

JESUS  IS  LOOKING  ON. 

"The  eyes  of  the  Lord  are  upon  the  righteous  and  his  ears  are 
open  unto  their  cry."    Ps.  34. 

[TUNE,  "ARE  YOU  WITHIN  THE  FOLD  TONIGHT?"] 

1.  While  traveling  as  a  pilgrim 

Across  life's  desert  drear, 
My  feet  ofttimes  are  weary, 

Mine  eyes  oft  drop  a  tear; 
But  when  I  look  to  Jesus, 

All  weariness  is  gone, 
My  heart  then  joys  within  me 

To  know  He's  looking  on. 

CHORUS. 
Yes,  He  is  ever  looking  on, 

With  anxious  ear  our  cry  to  hear. 
He  hears  each  sigh, 

He  sees  each  tear; 
He  knows  each  heart  "with  sorrow  riven," 

He  hears  each  word  of  joy  or  moan, 
And  whispers  gently  in  our  ear, 

I'm  looking,  looking  on. 

2.  When  troubles  rage  around  me, 

And  trials  fiery  come. 
My  thoughts  are  then  directed 

To  my  eternal  home. 
Though  walking  on  the  mountain, 

Or  on  the  verdant  lawn, 
This  is  the  thought  that  cheers  me, 

He's  always  looking  on. 

3.  When  friends  do  turn  against  me, 

And  frown  and  persecute, 
I'm  then  brought  nearer  Jesus, 

Than  when  my  foes  are  mute. 
While  Jesus  walks  beside  me, 

His  arm  I'll  lean  upon, 
And  ne'er  forget  the  promise, 

He's  always  looking  on. 

4.  Take  courage,  brother  pilgrim, 

And  let  us  journey  on, 
For  soon  life's  many  trials 

Will  all  have  passed  and  gone; 
Then  sweeping  up  to  glory 

We  '11  join  the  ransomed  throng, 
And  sing  God 's  endless  praises, 

While  He  is  looking  on. 


556  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

HOW   GOD   CALLS    MISSIONARIES   OUT   OF 
PRISON  CELLS. 

S.    H.    HADLEY. 

Superintendent  of  the  Old  McAuley  Mission. 

Some  of  the  best  missionaries  this  world  ever  knew  are 
men  who  have  been  sentenced  to  long  terms  in  prison. 
Wholly  shut  away  from  the  world  and  its  dreadful  temp- 
tations, God  had  a  chance  to  speak  to  them.  Jerry  Mc- 
Auley was  a  wonderful  example  of  this,  and  that  drunken 
loafer  and  thief  was  finally  used  so  wonderfully  by  the  Lord 
God  that  his  name  has  gone  all  over  this  world  and  has 
been  an  inspiration  to  millions.  He  was  sent  to  prison  from 
the  Fourth  Ward  of  New  York  for  fifteen  years  at  the  age 
of  nineteen. 

One  Sunday  morning  in  the  chapel  the  speaker  was  old 
"Awful"  Gardener,  an  old-time  ruffian  and  prize-fighter  in 
New  York,  but  God  had  got  hold  of  him  and  he  had  been 
wonderfully  saved.  With  tears  streaming  down  his  face,  he 
told  of  the  love  of  Christ,  and  he  said,  "Boys,  I  ought  to  be 
wearing  the  stripes  the  same  as  you  are,  and  I  feel  a  deep 
sympathy  for  you." 

He  also  quoted  some  verses  from  the  Scriptures,  and 
after  the  boys  had  gone  back  to  their  cells  Jerry  found  a 
Bible  in  the  ventilator  of  his  cell,  and,  looking  it  over  aim- 
lessly, tried  to  find  the  text  that  "Awful"  Gardener  had 
quoted,  but  instead  he  found  that  Christ  came  to  save  sin- 
ners, and  the  Holy  Spirit  showed  him  his  dreadful  past 
life.  As  the  day  grew  into  night,  Jerry  got  down  on  his 
knees  and  began  to  pray.  He  had  never  prayed  before, 
but  now  he  cried  to  God  for  help  and  mercy.  How  long  he 
was  there  he  does  not  know,  but  some  time  during  the  night 
a  glorious  light  dispelled  the  deep  darkness  of  his  soul,  and 
he  cried  out,  "Oh,  praise  God,  I  found  Jesus,  and  He  gives 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  557 

peace  to  my  soul."  The  unusual  sound  brought  the  keeper, 
who  asked,  "What  is  the  matter  with  you?" 

Jerry  answered,  "I  found  Jesus,  that  's  what  's  the  matter 
with  me." 

He  found  some  opportunities  to  breathe  out  the  new- 
found hopes  of  his  soul  and  the  love  of  Jesus  to  the  prison- 
ers about  him.  Soon  a  revival  broke  out  in  the  prison  such 
as  never  had  been  seen  before  or  since,  and  Jerry  was  the 
center  of  it  all.  He  was  pardoned  in  1864,  but  when  he 
got  home  he  had  no  friends,  no  money,  and  he  soon  fell 
into  bad  company,  and  got  to  be  a  worse  scoundrel  than  he 
ever  was  before.  It  was  after  this  he  became  known  as 
the  dangerous  East  River  pirate.  He  was  reclaimed  in 
1868,  and  although  he  fell  five  times  after  that  during  the 
first  eight  or  nine  months,  he  was  finally  anchored  to  Christ. 

Do  you  know  that  every  drunkard  uses  tobacco?  Jerry 
was  no  exception.  Some  faithful  friends  said  to  him,  "Jer- 
ry, give  up  your  tobacco  for  Jesus'  sake,"  and  he  gave  it  up, 
and  then  he  never  fell  afterward.  . 

He  was  afterward  married  to  Maria,  his  faithful  wife, 
who  also  was  redeemed  from  a  drunkard's  life,  and  in  1872 
opened  the  world-renowned  McAuley  Mission,  at  316  Wa- 
ter Street,  down  on  the  East  Side,  nearly  under  the  Brook- 
lyn Bridge. 

He  stayed  here  ten  years,  and  then  opened  the  Cremorne 
Mission,  Thirty-second  Street  and  Sixth  Avenue,  where  he 
died  in  1884,  and  had  the  largest  funeral  of  any  private 
citizen  who  was  ever  buried  in  New  York. 

The  writer  succeeded  Jerry  McAuley  down  there,  and 
the  work  is  going  on  night  and  day.  Drunkards  and  thieves 
come  in  by  the  thousand,  and,  thank  God,  many  of  them  arc 
saved  unto  life  eternal.  The  writer  is  also  a  convert  ct 
Jerry  McAuley  Mission. — The  Life  Boat. 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

OUTSIDE  THE  PRISON  WALLS. 
Free,  free  at  last  he  left  the  dreary  jail, 

And  stepped  into  the  dewy  April  night; 
Once  more  he  breathed,  untainted,  God's  pure  air. 

And  saw  the  evening  star's  sweet  trembling  light. 
How  strange!    how  strange!    and  yet  how  strangely  dear 

The  old  familiar  turf  beneath  his  feet! 
How  wonderful  once  more  to  be  alone 

Unwatched,  unguarded,    'neath  the  sky's  broad  sweep. 

Free!  free  again — but  O,  so  old  and  worn — 

So  weary  with  his  wasted,  ruined  life — 
Full  twenty  years  the  cell,  his  only  home — 

Full  twenty  years  with  hopeless  misery  rife! 
His  thoughts  sped  backward  till  they  reached  that  day 

When  he  had  entered  that  grim  house,  a  boy — 
Naught  but  a  boy  in  stature  and  in  years, 

But  with  a  heart  all  bare  of  hope  and  joy. 

For  in  a  dreadful  moment,  crazed  with  rum, 

His  hand  had  laid  a  fellow  creature  low, 
And  for  that  glass  of  brandy  in  his  brain 

Full  twenty  years  of  wretchedness  and  woe. 
And  now,  a  gray-haired  man,  he  walked  again 

The  very  path  his  boyish  feet  had  pressed 
So  many,  many  years  ago ; 

And  now  he  wandered  lonely,  seeking  rest. 

Where  should  he  go?     Where  now  his  footsteps  turn? 

No  living  soul  was  there  to  welcome  him! 
No  friend  of  all  his  youthful  days  he  knew 

Would  greet  again  this  wanderer  in  sin. 
Unconsciously,  he  sought  his  boyhood's  home, 

The  low,  white  cottage  he  had  held  so  dear; 
Twas  standing  in  its  old  accustomed  place, 

But  strangers  had  dwelt  there  for  many  a  year. 

Where  next?     The  tears  stood  in  his  mournful  eyes; 
His  breath  came  thick  and  fast — he  could  not  stir, 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  55Q 

But   leaned   upon   the  old   familiar   gate 

With  thoughts  of  mother — O,  could  he  find  her? 

Where  was  she  now — that  mother,  sweet  and  good, 
Who  tried  with  tears  and  prayers  to  save  her  boy, 

Who  knelt  alor.e  at  midnight 's  solemn  hour 

And  mourned  for  him  who  should  have  been  her  joy. 

His  faltering  steps  at  last  he  vaguely  turned 

Unto  the  silent  churchyard  near  the  sea, 
And  stood  alone  while  pitying  moonbeams  spread 

Around  his  form  a  veil  of  charity. 
Alone  with  God  in  that  still,  solemn  place, 

Alone  with  hundreds  of  the  silent  dead, 
The  outcast  stood  with  lowly,  sin-sick  heart, 

The  cold  night  dew  upon  his  drooping  head. 

At  last  he  found  her  in  a  place  apart, 

Where  moonbeams  sparkled  through  the  willow  boughs, 
And  shone  upon  her  simple  headstone  white 

That  marked  the  limit  of  her  narrow  house. 
'Twas  but  a  snowy  marble,  simple,  plain, 

That  bore  her  name,  her  age,  and  just  below — 
* '  Died  of  a  broken  heart ' ' — alas !   lie  knew 

The  cause  of  all  that  life  and  death  of  woe. 

He  flung  himself  face  down  upon  the  grass, 

Alone  between  the  living  and  the  dead, 
And  wept  and  prayed  beside  the  lonely  grave 

Until  in  sorrow 's  slumber  sunk  his  head. 
They  found  him  in  the  morning,  stiff  and  cold, 

His  hands  clasped  o  'er  his  mother 's  lowly  grave, 
His  head  upon  its  turf,  as  though  he  thought 

That  turf  the  bosom  his   poof  heart  had  craved. 

Upon  his  pallid  cheeks  tnc  trace  of  tears 

Showed  in  tf.e  glowing  ray  of  morning's  sun, 

But  o  VY  that  face  there  shone  a  wondrous  peace. 
A  aonile  of  joy  now  all  his  life  was  done. 

Men  marveled  that  he  looked  so  young  again 


560  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Despite  his  crown  of  sorrow-silvered  hair, 
And  tender-hearted  women  sighed  and  wept 

And  smiled  to  think  that  they  had  found  him  there. 
Ah!  God  is   good!  with  loving  tenderness 

He  saw  the  sad,  repentant  soul  alone 
Weep  out  his  sin  upon  his  mother's  grave, 

And  gently  led  the  weary  wanderer  home. 
This  we  believe:     That  now  in  Heaven's  street 

The  mother  and  her  son  are  reconciled, 
And  all  the  pain  and  sin  of  earth  below 

Are  blotted  out,  and  he  is  God's  own  child. 

— Hat  tie  F.   Crocker,  in  Union  Signal. 

IF  WE  KNEW. 

If  we  knew  the  heart 's  sad  sighing 

In  the  secret  hour; 
If  we  knew  the  bitter  crying 

O'er  the  tempter's  power, 
Slower  would  we  be  to  censure, 

Kinder    in    reproof ; 
From  the  erring,  peradventure, 

We  would  not  stand  aloof. 

If  we  knew  the  hard,  stern   struggle 

Of  the  one  who  fell, 
Toiling  on   'mid  grief  and  trouble 

That   none   but   God  can  tell, 
Our  thoughts,  perhaps,  would  be  kinder, 

Our  help  more  pitiful — 
Be  of  God 's  love  a  reminder 

To  the  tempted  soul. 

If  we  knew  the  fierce  temptation, 

Could  we  feel  the  pain 
Of   the    deep    humiliation, 

The  tears  shed  all  in  vain, 
We,  perchance,  would  be  more  gentle, 

Our    tones    more   tender    be; 
O  'er  his  fault  we  'd  draw  the  mantle 

Of  fervent  charity. 

If  we  knew  how  dark  and  cheerless 

Seem  the  coming  years, 
We  might  then  appear  more  fearless 

Of  each  other's,  cares. 
Could  our  eyes  pierce  through  the  smiling 

Of  the  face  so   calm, 
See  the  bitter  self-reviling, 

We  'd  apply  the'  balm. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  561 

Did  we  walk  a   little  nearer 

To  Jesus  in  the  way, 
Hear  His  voice  a  little  clearer 

We  would  know   how   to  pray. 
He   has  words  of  comfort  given 

That  we  to  them  should  speak, 
Ere  the  hopeless  soul  is  driven 

His  faith  with  God  to  break. 

We  shall  know  each  other  better, 

The  mists  shall  roll  away; 
Nevermore  we'll  feel  the  fetter 

Of  this  toil-worn  clay. 
Only  let  us  love  each  other, 

'Tis  our  Lord 's  command, 
To  each   fainting   friend  or   brother 

Keach  a  helping  hand. 

— Anna  L.  Dreyer,  of  Missionary  Training  Home  at  Tabor,  Iowa. 

LITTLE  GRAVES. 

You  have  your  little  grave ;  I  have  mine.  You  have  your 
sad  memories ;  I  have  mine.  For, 

"There  is  no  flock,  however  tended, 

But  one  dead  lamb  is  there; 
There  is  no  fireside,  howsoe  'er  defended, 

But  hath  its  vacant  chair. 

"The  air  is  full  of  farewells  to  the  dying, 

And  weepings   for  the  dead; 
The  heart  of  Kachel  for  her  children  crying 

Will  not  be  comforted." 

I  have  pleasant  thoughts  sometimes  about  these  little 
graves.  I  think  what  a  safe  place  the  little  grave  is.  Temp- 
tations never  come  there.  Sins  never  pollute  there.  Tears, 
pains,  disappointments,  bereavements,  trials,  cares,  and 
snares,  are  all  unknown  in  that  silent  resting  place.  And 
then,  Jesus  has  the  keys,  and  he  keeps  our  treasures  safely, 
and  guards  them  securely.  No  mother's  heart  is  anxious 
about  a  child  that  is  laid  in  the  little  grave.  No  prayers  of 
anguish  go  up  for  it  as  for  those  tossed  by  the  storms  of 
passion,  sunk  in  the  whirlpool  of  vice,  or  lost  in  the  wide 
wilderness  of  sorrow  and  of  sin.  There  is  now  no  need  of 
chiding,  reproving,  watching,  and  restraining.  The  chief 


562  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Shepherd  bears  the  lamb  on  his  own  bosom,  and  it  is  for- 
ever safe. 

The  little  grave  is  a  sacred  place.  The  Lord  of  glory  has 
passed  into  the  sepulchre,  and  from  it  he  has  opened  up  the 
path  of  life.  Hope  blooms  there,  and  hearts-ease  and 
amaranth  blossom  amid  the  shadows  that  linger  over  it,  and 
Jesus  watches  his  treasures  and  counts  his  jewels  in  the 
little  graves. 

The  little  grave  shall  be  opened  by  and  by.  The  night  is 
dark,  but  there  is  a  flush  of  morn  upon  the  mountains,  and 
a  gleam  of  sunlight  glows  along  the  distant  hills.  He  who 
bears  the  keys  of  hell  and  of  death,  shall  come  back  to  open 
the  little  graves,  and  call  the  sleepers  forth.  Then  cherub 
forms  shall  burst  the  silent  tombs,  and  these  green  hillocks 
shall  bear  their  harvest  for  the  garner  of  our  God. — Sel. 

THE  MOTHER'S  WARNING. 
Touch  it  not — ye  do  not  know, 

Unless  you've  borne  a  fate  like  mine, 
How  deep  a  curse,  how  wild  a  woe, 

Is  lurking  in  that  ruby  wine. 
Look  on  my  cheek — 'tis  withered  now; 

It  once  was  round  and  smooth  as  thine; 
Look  on  my  deeply  furrowed  brow — 

'Tis  all  the  work  of  treacherous  wine. 
I   had   two  sons,   two   princely   boys, 

As  noble  men  as  God  e'er  gave; 
I  saw  them  fall  from  honor's  joys 

To  fill  a  common  drunkard 's  grave. 
I  had  a  daughter,  young  and  fair, 

As  pure  as  ever  woman  bore. 
Where  is  she?     Did  you  ask  me  where? 

Bend  low,  I'll  tell  the  tale  once  more. 
I  saw  that  fairy  child  of  mine 

Linked  to  a  kingly  bridegroom's  side; 
Her  heart  was  proud  and  light  as  thine, 

Oh,  would  to  God  she  then  had  died! 
Not  many  moons  had  filled  their  horn, 

While  she  upon  his  bosom  slept; 
'Twas  on  a  dark  November  morn, 

She  o  'er  a  murdered  husband  wept ; 
Her  drunken  father  dealt  the  blow — 

Her  brain  grew  wild,  her  heart  grew  weak ; 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  563 

Was  ever  tale  of  deeper  woe 

A  mother's  lips  had  lived  to  speak? 
She  dwells  in  yonder  darkened  halls, 

No  ray  of  reason  there  does  shine; 
She  on  her  murdered  husband  calls. 

'Twas  done  by  wine,  by  cursed  wine! 

— Temperance  Banner, 

HARRY'S  REMORSE. 

It's  curious,  isn't  it,  chaplain,  what  a  twelve  months  may  bring? 
Last  year  I  was  in  Chicago,  gambling  and  living  in  sin; 
Was  raking  in  pools  at  the  races,  and  feeing  the  waiters  with  ten, 
Was  sipping  mint  juleps  by  twilight,  while  today  I  am  in  the  pen. 

What  led  me  to  do  it?     What  always  leads  a  man  to  destruction 

and  crime? 

The  prodigal  son  you  have  read  of  has  altered  somewhat  in  his  time. 
He  spends  his  money  as  freely  as  the  Biblical  fellow  of  old, 
And  when  it  is  gone  he  fancies  the  husks  will  turn  into  gold. 

Champagne,  a  box  at  the  opera,  high  steps  while  fortune  is  flush; 
The  passionate  kisses  of  women  whose  cheeks  have  forgotten  to  blush. 
The  old,  old  story,  chaplain,  of  pleasure  that  ends  in  tears, 
The  froth  that  foams  for  an  hour  and  the  dregs  that  are  tasted  for 
years. 

Last  night  as  I  sat  here  and  pondered  on  the  end  of  my  evil  ways, 
There  rose  like  a  phantom  before  me  the  vision  of  boyhood  days; 
I   thought  of  my  old,  old  home,   chaplain,   of   the  schoolhouse  that 

stood  on  the  hill, 
Of  the  brook  that  ran  through  the  meadow — I  can  hear  its  music  still. 

And  again  I  thought  of  my  mother,  of  the  mother  who  taught  me 

to  pray, 

Whose  love  was  a  precious  treasure  that  I  heedlessly  cast  away; 
And  again  I  saw  in  my  vision  the  fresh-lipped,  careless  boy, 
To  whom  the  future  was  boundless  and  the  world  but  a  mighty  toy. 

I  saw  all  this  as  I  sat  there,  of  my  ruined  and  wasted  life, 
And  the  thoughts  of  my  remorse  were  bitter,  they  pierced  my  heart 
like  a  knife. 


564  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

It  takes  some  courage,  chaplain,  to  laugh  in  the  face  of  fate, 
When  the  yearning  ambition  of  manhood  is  blasted  at  twenty-eight. 

— Composed  and  written  by  Harry  S while  taking  a  retrospection 

of  the  past. 

TWENTY— THIRTY-FOUR. 

The  line  of  dingy-coated  men  stretched  along  the  broad 
granite  walk  and  like  a  great  gray  serpent  wound  in  and 
out  among  the  wagon  shops  and  planing  mills  that  filled 
the  prison  yard. 

Down  beyond  the  foundry  the  beginning  of  the  line,  the 
head  of  the  serpent,  was  lost  at  the  stairway  leading  to  the 
second  floor  of  a  long,  narrow  building  in  which  whisk 
brooms  were  manufactured. 

An  hour  before,  on  the  sounding  of  a  brass  gong  at  the 
front,  the  same  line  had  wound  round  the  same  corners  into 
the  building  whence  now  it  crawled.  There,  the  men  had 
seated  themselves  on  four-legged  stools  before  benches  that 
stretched  across  the  room  in  rows.  Before  each  man  was 
set  a  tin  plate  of  boiled  meat ;  a  heavy  cup  of  black  coffee, 
a  knife,  a  fork,  and  a  thick  bowl  of  steaming,  odorous  soup. 

During  the  meal  other  men,  dressed  like  the  hundreds 
who  were  sitting,  in  suits  of  dull  gray,  with  little  round- 
crowned,  peaked-visored  caps  to  match,  moved  in  and  out 
between  the  rows,  distributing  chunks  of  fresh  white  bread 
from  heavy  baskets.  Now  and  then  one  of  the  men  would 
shake  his  head  and  the  waiter  would  pass  him  by,  but  usu- 
ally a  dozen  hands  were  thrust  into  a  basket  at  once  to 
clutch  the  regulation  "bit"  of  half  a  pound.  The  men  ate 
ravenously,  as  if  famished. 

Yet  a  silence  that  appalled  hovered  over  the  long  bare 
dining-hall  where  eight  hundred  men  were  being  fed. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  565 

There  was  no  clatter  of  knives  and  forks;  there  were  no 
jests;  they  moved  about  as  noiselessly  as  ghosts. 

There  were  faces  stamped  with  indelible  marks  of  de- 
pravity and  vice,  but  now  and  then  the  "breadtossers" 
would  see  uplifted  a  pair  of  frank  blue  eyes,  in  which 
burned  the  light  of  hope.  Men  were  there  who  dreamed 
of  a  day  to  come  when  all  would  be  forgiven  and  forgot- 
ten ;  when  a  hand  would  again  be  held  out  in  welcome,  and 
a  kiss  again  be  pressed  to  quivering  lips.  Men  there  were 
of  all  kinds,  of  all  countenances,  young  and  old ;  the  wav- 
ing, sunlit  hair  of  youth  side  by  side  with  locks  in  which 
the  snow  was  thickly  sprinkled.  All  these  men  were  paying 
the  penality  society  imposes  on  proved  criminals. 

And  now,  their  dinner  over,  they  were  marching  back  to 
the  shops  and  mills  of  the  prison,  where  days  and  weeks 
were  spent  at  labor.  Those  men  employed  in  the  wagon- 
works  dropped  out  of  the  line  when  they  came  opposite  the 
entrance  to  their  building.  Those  behind  pushed  forward 
as  their  prison-mates  disappeared,  and  never  for  more  than 
ten  seconds  was  there  a  gap  in  the  long,  gray  line. 

The  whisk-broom  factory  occupied  the  second  floor  of 
the  building  at  the  far  end  of  the  prison  yard.  On  the 
ground  floor  men  worked  at  lathes,  turning  out  the  wooden 
handles  to  the  brooms  that  were  finished,  sorted  and  tied  up- 
stairs. At  the  corner  the  line  divided,  sixty-five  of  the  men 
climbed  the  stairway  to  the  second  floor,  the  other  thirty 
entered  the  lathe-room  below. 

A  dozen  men  in  blue  uniforms  marched  beside  the  line 
on  its  way  from  the  mess-hall,  six  on  each  side,  at  two 
yards'  distance.  Their  caps  bore  ''Guard"  in  gold  letters, 
and  each  guard  carried  a  short,  heavy,  crooked  cane  of  pol- 
ished white  hickory.  On  entering  the  work-room  of  the 


566  .  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

second  floor,  the  men  assembled  before  a  railed  platform, 
upon  which  a  red-faced,  coatless  man  stood  behind  a  big 
desk.  In  cold,  metallic  tones  he  called  the  numbers  of  the 
convicts  who  in  turn  replied  "Here !"  when  their  numbers 
were  spoken. 

"Twenty-thirty-four!"  called  the  red-faced  man.  Thete 
was  no  response. 

"Twenty-thirty-four?"  The  red-faced  man  leaned  over 
the  desk  and  glared  down.  Then  a  voice  from  somewhere 
on  the  left  answered  "Here !" 

"What  was  the  matter  with  you  the  first  time?"  snapped 
the  foreman. 

The  man  thus  questioned  removed  his  cap  and  took  three 
steps  toward  the  platform.  In  feature  the  word  "hard" 
would  describe  him.  His  head  was  long,  wide  at  the  fore- 
head, and  yet  narrow  between  the  temples.  His  eyes  were 
small  and  close  together.  His  nose  was  flat,  and  mouth 
hardly  more  than  a  straight  cut  in  the  lower  part  of  his 
face.  The  lower  jaw  was  square  and  heavy,  and  the  ears 
protruded  abnormally.  A  trifle  above  medium  height  with 
a  pair  of  drooping,  twitching  shoulders,  the  man  looked 
criminal. 

To  the  question  he  replied  doggedly,  "I  answered  the 
first  time,  sir,  but  I  guess  you  didn't  hear  me." 

The  foreman  gazed  steadily  at  the  man.  Their  eyes  met. 
The  foreman's  did  not  waver,  but  "2034"  lowered  his  and 
fumbled  nervously  at  his  cap. 

"All  right,"  said  the  foreman,  quickly,  "but  I  guess  you'd 
better  report  to  the  warden  as  soon  as  you  get  through  in 
here.  Don't  wait  for  any  piece-work.  Go  to  him  as  soon 
as  you  have  finished  your  task.  I'll  tell  him  you're  coming. 
He'll  be  waiting  for  you  at  the  front  office." 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  567 

"Yes,  sir."  The  convict  did  not  raise  his  eyes.  He 
stepped  back  into  the  line. 

Then,  at  the  clap  of  the  foreman's  hands,  the  men  broke 
ranks,  and  each  walked  away  to  his  own  bench  or  machine. 
Five  minutes  later,  the  swish  on  the  corn-wisps  as  they 
were  separated  and  tied  into  rough  brooms,  and  the  occa- 
sional tap  of  a  hammer,  were  the  only  sounds  in  that  long 
room  where  sixty-five  men  toiled. 

Now  and  then  one  of  the  men  would  go  to  the  platform 
where  the  foreman  sat  bent  over  half  a  dozen  little  books, 
in  which  it  was  his  duty  to  record  the  number  of  "tasks" 
completed  by  each  of  the  workmen  "on  his  contract" — a 
"task"  in  the  prison  vernacular  being  the  work  each  man 
is  compelled  to  accomplish  within  a  certain  space  of  time. 
On  the  approach  of  a  workman  the  foreman  would  look 
up  and  a  few  whispered  words  would  pass  between  the 
two.  Then  the  broom-maker  would  dart  into  the  stock 
room,  adjoining  the  factory,  where,  upon  receiving  a  writ- 
ten requisition  from  the  foreman,  the  officer  in  charge 
would  give  him  the'  material  he  needed  in  his  work — a  ball 
of  twine,  or  a  strip  of  plush  with  which  the  handles  of  the 
brooms  were  decorated. 

At  ten  minutes  past  three,  2034  crossed  to  the  platform. 

"What  do  you  want?"  asked  the  foreman,  as  he  eyed 
keenly  the  man  in  the  gray  suit. 

"A  paper  of  small  tacks,"  was  the  reply,  quickly  spoken. 
The  order  was  written,  and  as  2034  moved  towards  the 
door  leading  toward  the  stock-room,  the  man  on  the  plat- 
form asked  in  an  undertone,  "Anything  wrong,  Bill?" 

"That's  what  I  don't  know,  George,"  the  foreman  re- 
plied. "That  man  Riley's  been  acting  queer  of  late.  I've 
got  an  idea  there's  something  up  his  sleeve.  There's  not  a 


568  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

harder  nut  on  the  contract  than  that  fellow,  and  by  the 
way  he's  been  carrying  on,  sullen  like  and  all  that,  I'm  fear- 
ing something's  going  to  happen.  You  remember,  don't 
you?  What,  no?  He's  that  Riley  from  Acorn.  He  came 
in  two  years  ago  on  a  burglary  job  in  Give,  where  he  shot 
a  drug  clerk  that  offered  objections  to  his  carrying  off  all 
there  was  in  the  shop.  They  made  it  manslaughter  and 
he's  in  for  fifteen  years.  There's  another  warrant  ready 
for  him  when  he  gets  out,  for  a  job  done  four  years  ago  in 
Kentucky.  He's  a  bad  one.  A  fellow  like  that  is  no  good 
around  this  shop." 

The  guard  smiled  cynically  at  the  foreman's  suggestion 
that  a  convict  may  be  too  bad  even  for  prison  surround- 
ings. 

"But  I've  got  my  eye  on  him,"  continued  the  foreman. 
"I'm  sending  him  up  to  the  warden  this  afternoon.  Say, 
George,  when  you  go  back,  will  you  tell  the  warden  Riley 's 
coming  up  to  call  on  him  ?" 

"Sure,  Bill,"  was  the  smiling  reply  of  the  guard  as  he 
moved  away.  Twenty-thirty-four  had  returned  with  a 
paper  of  tacks  and  gone  directly  to  his  bench. 

It  was  a  quarter  of  four*  by  the  foreman's  watch  when 
the  door  at  the  head  of  the  stairway  opened  and  the  war- 
den entered,  accompanied  by  two  friends  whom  he  was 
showing  through  the  "plant,"  as  he  preferred  to  call  the 
prison. 

"This  is  where  the  whisk-brooms  are  made,"  said  the 
warden.  "On  the  floor  below,  which  we  just  left,  you  will 
remember  we  saw  the  boys  turning  out  broom-handles. 
Well,  here  the  brooms  are  tied  and  sewed  through  by  hand, 
over  at  those  benches.  In  the  room  beyond,  through  that 
door,  we  keep  the  stuff  handy  that  is  called  for  from  time 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  569 

to  time.  In  a  further  room  is  stored  the  material  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  the  brooms,  the  tin  tips,  the  tacks,  the 
twine,  and  about  ten  or  twelve  tons  of  broom  straw." 

As  the  warden  ceased  speaking,  the  foreman  leaned 
across  the  desk  and  tapped  him  on  the  shoulder.  "Riley's 
coming  up  to  see  you  this  afternoon.  He's  been  acting 
queer — don't  answer  the  call  and  the  like." 

The  warden  only  nodded,  and  continued  his  explanation 
to  the  visitors. 

"Now/'  he  said,  moving  towards  the  door  of  the  stock- 
room, "if  you  will  come  over  here  I'll  show  you  our  store- 
room. You  see  we  have  to  keep  a  lot  of  material  on  hand. 
Beyond  this  second  room  the  stuff  is  stored  up,  and  is  taken 
into  the  stock-room  as  it  is  wanted.  Between  the  rooms 
we  have  arranged  these  big  sliding  iron  doors  that,  in  case 
of  a  fire,  could  be  dropped,  and  thus,  for  a  few  minutes  at 
least,  cut  the  flames  off  from  any  room  but  that  in  which 
they  originated.  You  see,"  pulling  an  iron  lever  which  let 
the  heavy  iron  sheet  slide  to  the  floor,  "that  completes  the 
wall." 

The  visitor  nodded.  "Now,  come  on  through  the  second 
room,  and  into  the  third,"  there,  ranged  regularly  on  the 
floor  were  huge  bales  of  broom  straw,  and  piled  against  the 
walls  were  boxes  upon  boxes  of  tacks,  velvet,  ornamental 
bits  of  metal,  and  all  the  other  separate  parts  of  the  com- 
mercial whisk  broom. 

The  visitors  examined  the  tacks  and  the  tins  and  felt  of 
the  bales  of  straw. 

"Very  interesting,"  observed  one  of  the  men,  as  he  drew 
his  cigar  case  from  his  pocket,  and  biting  the  tip  from  one 
of  the  cigars  it  contained,  struck  a  little  wax  match  on  the 
sole  of  his  shoe.  He  held  the  match  in  his  hand  till  it  had 


570  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

burned  down,  then  threw  it  on  the  floor,  and  followed  the 
warden  and  the  other  visitor  under  the  heavy  iron  screen 
into  the  workingroom  of  the  factory. 

The  foreman  was  busy  at  his  books  and  did  not  observe 
the  little  party  as  it  passed  through  on  the  other  side  of  the 
broom-bins  and  out  at  the  big  door. 

Two  minutes  later,  2034  happened  to  look  out  through 
the  window  across  his  bench  and  he  saw  the  warden  with 
his  friends  crossing  the  prison  yards  to  the  foundry.  A 
guard  just  then  sauntered  into  the  room  and  stopped  at  the 
first  of  the  bins.  He  idly  picked  up  one  of  the  finished 
brooms  and  examined  it.  His  attention  a  moment  later 
was  attracted  by  some  one  pulling  at  his  coat  from  behind. 
He  turned. 

"Why,  Tommy,  my  boy,  what  is  it  ?" 

The  two  soft  brown  eyes  of  a  little  boy  were  turned  up 
to  him.  "I'm  looking  for  papa,"  replied  the  little  fellow. 
"The  foreman  down-stairs  said  he  come  up  here.  Uncle 
George  is  back  in  the  house,  and  mamma  sent  me  out  to 
find  papa." 

The  guard  patted  the  little  fellow's  head.  "And  we'll 
find  him,  Tommy,"  he  said.  He  went  over  to  the  foreman's 
desk.  "Bill,  did  the  warden  come  up  here?  Tommy  is 
looking  for  him ;  his  mother  sent  him  out." 

The  foreman  raised  his  eyes  from  his  books.  "Yes,"  he 
replied,  "he  went  in  there,  with  a  couple  of  gentlemen.1' 

The  guard  looked  down  at  the  little  boy.  "He's  in  the 
store-room,"  he  said,  "you'll  find  him  in  there,  Tommy." 

Then  he  turned  and  walked  out  of  the  shop.  The  child 
ran  on  into  the  room  beyond.  His  father  was  not  there. 
The  stock-keeper  did  not  observe  the  little  boy  as  he  tip- 
toed, in  a  childish  way,  past  the  desk.  Tommy  passed  on 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  571 

into  the  farther  room.  He  knew  he  would  find  his  father 
in  there,  and  he  would  crawl  along  between  the  tiers  of 
straw  bales  and  take  him  by  surprise. 

He  had  hardly  passed  when  the  stock-keeper,  raising  his 
head  from  the  list  of  material  he  was  preparing,  held  his 
face  and  sniffed  the  air.  Quietly  he  rose  from  his  revolv- 
ing chair  and  went  to  the  straw-room  door.  He  merely 
peered  inside.  Turning  suddenly,  he  pressed  upon  the 
lever  near  the  door  and  the  iron  screen  slid  down  into  place, 
cutting  off  the  farther  room.  Then,  snatching  a  few  books 
that  lay  on  his  desk,  he  slipped  out  into  the  shop,  and  at 
that  door  released  the  second  screen.  As  it  fell  into  place 
with  a  slight  crunching  noise,  the  foreman  turned  in  his 
chair.  The  eyes  of  the  two  met.  The  stock-keeper  raised 
his  hand  and  touched  his  lip  with  the  first  finger.  He 
crossed  rapidly  to  the  desk. 

"Get  the  men  out !  Get  the  men  out !"  he  gasped.  "The 
store-room  is  on  fire !" 

The  foreman  rapped  on  the  table  twice.  Every  man  in 
that  room  turned  and  faced  the  desk. 

"Work  is  over  for  today,"  said  the  foreman.  His  man- 
ner was  ominously  calm,  and  the  men  looked  at  one  another 
wonderingly. 

"Fall  in!" 

At  the  order,  the  dingy  gray  suits  formed  in  the  same 
old  serpent,  and  the  line  moved  rapidly  through  the  door 
at  the  end  of  the  room  and  down  the  outside  stairs. 

There,  in  front  of  the  building,  they  were  halted,  and  a 
guard  dispatched  to  find  the  warden.  He  was  discovered 
in  the  foundry.  "Fire  in  the  broom-shop!"  whispered  the 
guard. 

The  warden's  face  paled.     He  dashed  through  the  door- 


572 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 


way,  and  one  minute  later  came  around  the  corner  of  the 
building,  just  in  time  to  see  the  first  signs  of  flames  against 
the  windows  of  the  rear  room  up-stairs. 

Within  five  seconds,  a  troop  of  fifteen  guards  had  drawn 
the  little  hand-engine  from  its  house  and  hitched  the  hose 
to  the  hydrant  nearest  the  shop.  From  all  the  other  build- 
ings the  men  were  being  marched  to  their  cells. 

"These  men!"  hurriedly  whispered  the  foreman  to  the 
warden.  "What  shall  I  do  with  them?" 

"Get  'em  inside  as  soon  as  you  can!  This  won't  last 
long,  the  front  of  the  building  is  cut  off.  It'll  all  be  over 
in  ten  minutes." 

The  foreman  gave  an  order.  At  that  instant  a  woman 
came  running  down  the  prison  yard.  Reaching  the  war- 
den's side,  she  fell  against  him  heavily. 

"Why,  Harriet,"  he  exclaimed,  "what  is  the  matter?" 

"Oh/'  she  gasped,  "Tommy !  Tommy !  Where  is 
Tommy  ?" 

A  guard  at  the  end  of  the  engine  rail  turned  ashy  white. 
He  raised  a  hand  to  his  head,  and  with  the  other  grasped 
the  wheel  to  keep  from  falling.  Then  he  cried,  "Mr.  Jef- 
fries, I — I  believe  Tommy  is  up  there  in  the  stock-room. 
He  went  to  look—" 

The  warden  clutched  the  man's  arm.  "Up  there?  Up 
there?"  he  cried. 

The  sudden  approach  of  the  woman  and  the  words  that 
followed  had  wrought  so  much  confusion  that  the  men  had 
paid  no  attention  to  the  foreman's  command,  and  he  had 
even  failed  to  notice  their  lack  of  attention,  in  the  excite- 
ment of  that  moment. 

"Great  God !"  cried  the  warden.  "What  can  I  do — what 
can  I  do?  No  one  can  live  up  there!" 


OR  A  LA  COR  OF  LOVE  573 

There  was  a  crash.  One  of  the  windows  fell  out.  "Get 
a  ladder!"  some  one  cried.  A  guard  ran  back  toward  the 
prison-house.  Then,  in  the  midst  of  the  hubbub,  a  man  in 
a  dingy  gray  suit  stepped  out  a  yard  from  the  line  of  con- 
victs. His  prison  number  was  2034.  He  touched  his  little 
square  cap. 

"If  you'll  give  me  permission,  I  think  I  can  get  up  there," 
was  all  he  said. 

"You!  you!"  exclaimed  the  warden.  "No,  no;  I  will 
tell  no  man  to  do  it !" 

There  was  a  second  crash.  Another  window  had  fallen 
out,  and  now  the  tongues  of  flame  were  lapping  the  outer 
walls  above. 

The  convict  made  no  reply.  With  a  bound  he  was  at  the 
end  of  the  line  and  dashing  up  the  stairway. 

The  warden's  wife  was  on  her  knees,  clinging  to  the 
hand  of  her  husband.  In  his  eyes  was  a  dead,  cold  look. 
A  few  men  bit  their  lips,  and  a  faint  shadow  of  a  cmile 
played  about  the  mouths  of  others.  They  all  waited.  A 
convict  had  broken  a  regulation — had  run  from  the  line ! 
He  would  be  punished !  Even  as  he  had  clambered  up  the 
stairs  a  guard  had  cried,  "shall  I  shoot?" 

The  silence  was  broken  by  a  shriek  from  the  woman 
kneeling  at  the  warden's  feet.  "Look!"  she  cried,  and 
pointed  towards  the  last  of  the  up-stairs  windows. 

There,  surrounded  by  a  halo  of  smoke,  and  hemmed  in 
on  all  sides  by  flames,  stood  a  man  in  a  dingy  gray  suit. 
One  sleeve  was  on  fire,  but  he  beat  out  the  flames  with  his 
left  hand.  Those  below  heard  him  cry,  "I've  got  him!" 
Then  the  figure  disappeared.  Instantly  it  returned,  bear- 
ing something  in  its  arms.  It  was  the  limp  form  of  a  child. 

All  saw  the  man  wrap  smoking  straw  round  the  little 


574  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

body  and  tie  round  that  two  strands  of  heavy  twine.  Then 
that  precious  burden  was  lowered  out  of  the  window.  The 
father  rushed  forward  and  held  up  his  hands  to  receive  it. 

Another  foot — he  hugged  the  limp  body  of  his  boy  to  his 
breast!  On  the  ground  a  little  way  back  lay  a  woman,  as 
if  dead. 

"Here's  the  ladder!"  yelled  the  foreman,  and  that  mo- 
ment the  eyes  that  were  still  turned  upon  the  window  above 
where  stood  a  man  in  a  dingy  gray  suit,  witnessed  a  specta- 
cle that  will  reappear  before  them  again  and  again  in  vis- 
ions of  the  night. 

.  The  coat  the  man  wore  was  ablaze.  Flames  shot  on 
either  side  of  him  and  above  him.  Just  as  the  ladder  was 
placed  against  the  wall,  a  crackling  was  heard — not  the 
crackling  of  the  fire.  Then  like  a  thunderbolt,  a  crash  oc- 
curred that  caused  even  the  men  in  their  cells  to  start.  The 
roof  caved  in. 

In  the  prison  yard  that  line  of  convicts  saw  2034  reel  and 
fall  backwards,  and  heard,  as  he  fell,  his  last  cry,  "I'm 
a-comin',  warden!" 

He  was  a  convicted  criminal,  and  died  in  prison  gray. 
But  it  would  seem  not  wonderful  to  the  warden  if,  when 
that  man's  soul  took  flight,  the  recording  angel  did  write 
his  name  on  the  eternal  Book  of  Record,  with  a  strange 
cabalistic  sign,  a  ring  around  a  cross — that  stands  for  "good 
behavior." — The  Youth's  Companion. 

HIS  MOTHER'S  SONG. 

Beneath  the  hot  midsummer  sun 

The  men  had  marched  all  day; 
And  now  beside  a  rippling  stream 

Upon  the  grass  they  lay. 
Tiring  of  games  and  idle  jest, 

As  swept  the  hours  along, 
They  cried  to  one  who  mused  apart, 

''Come,  friend,  give  us  a  song." 


OR   A    LABOR   OF   LOVE  575 

' '  I  fear  I  cannot  please, ' '  he  said ; 

' '  The  only  songs  I  know 
Are  those  my  mother  used  to  sing 

For  me,  long  years  ago." 
' '  Sing  one  of  those, ' '  a  rough  voice  cried, 

" There's  none  but  true  men  here; 
To  every  mother's  son  of  us 

A  mother 's  songs  are  dear. ' ' 

Then  sweetly  rose  the  singer 's  voice 

Amid  unwonted  calm, 
"Am  I  a  soldier  of  the  Cross, 

A  follower  of  the  Lamb? 
And  shall  I  fear  to  own  His  Cause?" 

The  very  stream  was  stilled, 
And  hearts  that  never  throbbed  with  fear 

With  tender  thoughts  were  filled. 

Ended  the  song;  the  singer  said, 

As  to  his  feet  he   rose, 
i  l  Thanks  to  you  all,  my  friends,  good-night, 

God  grant  us  sweet  repose. ' ' 
' '  Sing  us  one  more, ' '  the  captain  begged, 

The  soldier  bent  his  head, 
Then  glancing  round,  with  smiling  lips, 

"You'll  join  with  me?"  he  said. 

"We'll  sing  this  old  familiar  air, 

Sweet  as  the  bugle  call, 
'All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name, 

Let  angels  prostrate  fall ; '  ' 
Ah!  wondrous  was  the  old  tune's  spell, 

As  on  the  soldier  sang, 
Man  after  man  fell  into  line, 

And  loud  the  voices  rang. 

The  songs  are  done,  the  camp  is  still, 

Naught  but  the  stream  is  heard; 
But  ah!  the  depths  of  every  soul 

By  those  old  hymns  are  stirred, 
And  up  from  many  a  bearded  lip, 

In  whispers  soft  and  low, 
Rises  the  prayer  that  mother  taught 

Her  boy  long  years   ago. 

— Safeguard. 

PERFECT  PEACE. 

[Lines  written  by  a  lady  on  the  steamship  ' '  Mongolia, ' '  near 
Malta.  She  was  en  route  from  China,  where  she  had  been  i  mis- 
sionary for  seventeen  years,  to  her  home  in  England.  She  gave 
the  verses  to  Bishop  Bowman,  who  was  on  the  steamer  with  her, 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

and  he  sent  them  to  his  wife,  not  knowing  she  had  died  a  few  days 
before  he  wrote  his  letter. — A.  Lowry.] 

Lonely?    No,  not  lonely 

While  Jesus  stands  by; 
His  presence   always  cheers  me, 

I  know  that  He  is  nigh. 

Friendless?     No,  not  friendless, 

For  Jesus  is  my  friend; 
I  change,  but  He  remaineth 

The  same  unto  the  end. 

Tired?     No,  not  tired. 

While  leaning  on  His  breast; 
My  soul  hath  full  enjoyment, 

'Tis   His  eternal   rest. 

Saddened?     No,  not  saddened 

By  darkest  scenes  of  woe; 
I  should  be,  if  I  knew  not 

That  Jesus  loves  me  so. 

Helpless?     Yes,  so  helpless, 

But  I  am  leaning  hard 
On  the  mighty  arm  of  Jesus, 

And  He  is  keeping  guard. 

Waiting?     Oh,  yes,  waiting, 

He  bade  me  watch  and  wait; 
I  only  wonder  often 

What  makes  my  Lord  so  late. 

Joyful?    Yes,  so  joyful, 

With  joy  too  deep  for  words; 
A  precious,   sure  possession, 

The  joy  that  is  my  Lord's. 

— Divine  Life. 

SWEET  REVENGE/ 

A  few  years  ago  while  Robert  Stewart  was  Governor  of 
Missouri,  a  steamboat  man  was  brought  in  from  the  peni- 
tentiary for  a  pardon.  He  was  a  large,  powerful  fellow, 
and  when  the  governor  looked  at  him  he  seemed  strangely 
affected.  He  scrutinized  him  long  and  closely.  Finally  he 
signed  the  document  that  restored  to  the  prisoner  his  lib- 
erty. Before  he  handed  it  to  him  he  said,  "You  will  commit 
some  other  crime  and  be  in  the  penitentiary  again,  I  fear." 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  577 

The  man  solemnly  promised  that  he  would  not.  The  gov- 
ernor looked  doubtful,  mused  a  few  minutes  and  said,  "You 
will  go  back  on  the  river  and  be  a  mate  again,  I  suppose?" 

The  man  replied  that  he  would. 

"Well,  I  want  you  to  promise  me  one  thing,"  resumed 
the  governor.  "I  want  you  to  pledge  your  word  that  when 
you  are  mate  again,  you  will  never  take  a  billet  of  wood  in 
your  hand  and  drive  a  sick  boy  out  of  a  bunk  to  help  you 
load  your  boat  on  a  stormy  night." 

The  boatman  said  he  would  not,  and  inquired  what  he 
meant  by  asking  him  such  a  question. 

The  governor  replied,  "Because  some  day  that  boy  may 
become  a  governor,  and  you  may  want  him  to  pardon  you 
for  a  crime.  One  dark  stormy  night  many  years  ago  you 
stopped  youi  boat  on  the  Mississippi  River  to  take  on  a  load 
of  wood.  There  was  a  boy  on  board  working  his  way  from 
New  Orleans  to  St.  Louis,  but  he  was  very  sick  of  fever 
and  was  lying  in  a  bunk  You  had  plenty  of  men  to  do  the 
work  but  you  went  to  that  boy  with  a  stick  of  wood  in  your 
hand  and  drove  him  with  blows  and  curses  out  into  the 
wretched  night  and  kept  him  toiling  like  a  slave  until  the 
load  was  completed.  I  was  that  boy.  Here  is  your  pardon. 
Never  again  be  guilty  of  such  brutality." 

The  man,  cowering  and  hiding  his  face,  went  out  without 
a  word. 

What  a  noble  revenge  that  was,  and  what  a  lesson  for  a 
bully. — Success. 

NO   TELEPHONE  IN  HEAVEN. 

' '  Now,  I  can  wait  on  baby, ' '  the  smiling  merchant  said, 
As  he  stooped  and  softly  toyed  with  the  golden,  curly  head. 
"I  want  oo  to  tall  up  mamma,"  came  the  answer  full  and  free, 
1 '  Wif  yo '  telephone  an '  ast  her  when  she 's  tummin '  back  to  me. 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

1 '  Tell  her  1  so  lonesome   'at  I  don 't  know  what  to  do, 
An'  papa  cries  so  much  I  dess  he  must  be  lonesome,  too; 
Tell  her  to  turn  to  baby,  'tause  at  night  I  dit  so   'fraid, 
Wif  nobody  here  to  tiss  me,  when  the  light  bedins  to  fade. 

' '  All  f roo  de  day  I  wants  her,  for  my  dolly  dot  so  tored 
Fum  the  awful  punchin'  Buddy  gave  it  wif  his  little  sword; 
An'  ain't  nobody  to  fix  it,  since  mamma  went  away, 
An '  poor  'ittle  lonesome  dolly 's  dittin '  thinner  ever '  day. ' ' 

' '  My  child, ' '  the  merchant  murmured,  as  he  stroked  the  anxious  brow, 
" There's  no  telephone  connection  where  your  mother  lives  at  now." 
"Ain't  no  telephone  in  Heaven?"  and  tears  sprang  to  her  eyes. 
1 1 1  fought  dat  God  had  every  'fing  wif  Him  up  in  de  skies. ' ' 

— Atlanta  Constitution. 

PERFECT  THROUGH  FAITH. 

God  would  not  send  you  the  darkness 

If  He  felt  you  could  bear  the  light, 
But  you  would  not  cling  tjo  His  guiding  hand 

If  the  way  were  always  bright; 
And  you  would  not  care  to  walk  by  faith 

Gould  you  always  walk  by  sight. 

'Tis  true  He  has  many  an  anguish 

For  your  sorrowing  heart  to  bear, 
And  many  a  cruel  thorn-crown 

For  your  tired  head  to  wear; 
He  knows  how  few  would  reach  home  at  all 

If  pain  did  not  guide  them  there. 

If  He  sends  you  in  blinding  darkness, 

And  the  furnace  of  seven-fold  heat; 
'Tis  the  only  way,  believe  me, 

To  keep  you  close  to  His  feet; 
For   'tis  always  so  easy  to  wander 

When  our  lives  are  glad  and  sweet. 

Then  nestle  your  hand  in  our  Father's 

And  sing  if  you  can  as  you  go; 
Your  song  may  cheer  some  one  behind  you 

Whose  courage  is  sinking  low; 
And,  well  if  your  lips  do  quiver, 

God  will  love  you  better  so. 

— Selected. 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  579 

A  TRUE  HERO. 

Two  men  were  sinking  a  shaft.  It  was  dangerous  busi- 
ness, for  it  was  necessary  to  blast  the  rock.  It  was  their 
custom  to  cut  the  fuse  with  a  sharp  knife.  One  man  then 
entered  the  bucket  and  made  a  signal  to  be  hauled  up. 
When  the  bucket  again  descended,  the  other  man  entered 
it,  and  with  one  hand  on  the  signal  rope  and  the  other  hold- 
ing the  fire,  he  touched  the  fuse,  made  the  signal,  and  was 
rapidly  drawn  up  before  the  explosion  took  place. 

One  day  they  left  the  knife  above,  and  rather  than  ascend 
to  procure  it,  they  cut  the  fuse  with  a  sharp  stone.  It  took 
fire.  "The  fuse  is  on  fire!"  Both  men  leaped  into  the 
bucket,  and  made  the  signal ;  but  the  windlass  would  haul 
up  but  one  man  at  a  time ;  only  one  could  escape.  One  of 
the  men  instantly  leaped  out,  and  said  to  the  other,  ''Up  wi' 
ye ;  I'll  be  in  heaven  in  a  minute."  With  lightning  speed 
the  bucket  was  drawn  up,  and  the  one  man  was  saved.  The 
explosion  took  place.  Men  descended,  expecting  to  find  the 
mangled  body  of  the  other  miner ;  but  the  blast  had  loosened 
a  mass  of  rock,  and  it  lay  diagonally  across  him ;  and,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  bruises  and  a  little  scorching/he  was 
unhurt.  When  asked  why  he  urged  his  comrade  to  escape, 
he  gave  a  reason  that  sceptics  would  laugh  at.  If  there  Is 
any  being  on  the  face  of  the  earth  I  pity,  it  is  a  sceptic.  I 
would  not  be  called  "a  sceptic,"  today  for  all  this  world's 
wealth.  They  may  call  it  superstition  or  fanaticism,  or 
whatever  they  choose.  But  what  did  this  hero  say  when 
asked,  "Why  did  you  insist  on  this  other  man's  ascending?" 
In  his  quaint  dialect,  he  replied,  "Because  I  knowed  my  soul 
was  safe ;  for  I've  give  it  in  the  hands  of  Him  of  whom  it  is 
said,  that  'faithfulness  is  the  girdle  of  his  reins/  and  I 
knowed  that  what  I  gied  Him  He'd  never  gie  up.  But 


580  PRISONS  AND  PRAYER 

t'other  chap  was  an  awful  wicked  lad,  and  I  wanted  to  gie 
him  another  chance."  All  the  infidelity  in  the  world  cannot 
produce  such  a  signal  act  of  heroism  as  that. — Selected. 

THE  "KID." 

It  was  not  a  long  procession  or  a  pleasing  one  but  it  at- 
tracted much  attention. 

There  was  a  policeman  in  the  lead.  Beside  him  walked 
a  stockey,  bullnecked  young  fellow  in  a  yellowish  suit  of 
loud  plaid.  His  face  was  bloody  and  his  right  wrist  encir- 
cled by  the  bracelet  of  the  ''twisters"  which  shackled  him 
to  his  captor.  The  face  of  the  policeman  was  also  bloody 
and  his  clothes  were  torn.  Behind  these  two  walked  three 
other  patrolmen,  each  with  a  handcuffed  prisoner. 

The  "kid"  and  his  "gang"  had  been  caught  in  the  act  of 
robbing  a  saloon,  and  the  fight  had  been  lively,  although 
short.  The  prisoners  had  been  taken  to  the  detectives'  of- 
fice, and  photographed  and  registered  for  the  rogues'  gal- 
lery. They  were  now  on  their  way  to  court,  and  thence,  in 
all  probability,  to  jail. 

At  Broadway  there  was  a  jam  of  cars  and  heavy  trucks, 
and  the  procession  had  to  wait.  Nobody  has  been  able  to 
tell  just  what  happened,  but  they  all  agree  as  to  the  essen- 
tial points.  First  the  bystanders  saw  a  streak  of  yellow, 
which  was  the  kid;  then  a  streak  of  blue  which  was  the  po- 
liceman. The  prisoner  had  wrenched  the  twisters  from  his 
captors'  hand,  and  made  a  dash  across  the  tracks.  The  po- 
liceman, thinking,  of  course  that  he  was  trying  to  escape, 
had  followed. 

Then  everybody  saw  a  little  child  toddling  along  in  the 
middle  of  the  track.  A  cable-car,  with  clanging  bell,  was 
bearing  down  upon  it  with  a  speed  which  the  gripman 
seemed  powerless  to  check.  The  baby  held  up  its  hands, 


OR   A   LABOR   OF   LOVE  58! 

and  laughed  at  the  sound  of  the  gong.  On  the  other  side  of 
the  street  a  woman  was  screaming  and  struggling  in  the 
arms  of  three  or  four  men  who  were  trying  to  keep  her 
from  sacrificing  her  own  life  to  save  that  of  her  child. 

Then  the  kid  stood  there  with  the  child  safe  in  his  arms, 
the  steel  twisters  hanging  from  his  wrist.  He  set  the  baby 
down  gently  at  his  feet,  loosened  the  clasp  of  the  chubby 
hand  on  his  big  red  fist,  and  quietly  held  out  his  wrist  to  the 
policeman  to  be  handcuffed  again.  He  had  one  chance  in  a 
million  for  his  life  when  he  made  that  desperate  leap,  but 
he  had  not  hesitated  the  fraction  of  a  second. 

CHARGED  WITH  MURDER. 

"Prisoner  at  the  bar,  have  you  anything  to  say  why  sen- 
tence of  death  should  not  be  passed  upon  you  ?" 

A  solemn  hush  fell  over  the  crowded  court-room,  and 
every  person  waited  in  almost  breathless  expectation  for  the 
answer  to  the  judge's  question. 

"I  have,  your  honor !  I  stand  here  convicted  of  the  mur- 
der of  my  wife.  Witnesses  have  testified  that  I  was  a  loaf- 
er, a  drunkard  and  a  wretch ;  that  I  returned  from  one  of 
my  debauches  and  fired  the  shot  that  killed  the  wife  I  had 
sworn  to  love,  cherish  and  protect.  While  I  have  no  re- 
membrance of  committing  the  awful  deed,  I  have  no  right 
to  condemn  the  verdict  of  the  jury,  for  their  verdict  is  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  evidence. 

"But,  may  it  please  the  court,  I  wish  to  show  that  I  am 
not  alone  responsible  for  the  murder  of  my  wife!  The 
judge  on  this  bench,  the  jury  in  the  box,  the  lawyers  within 
this  bar  and  most  of  the  witnesses,  including  the  pastor  of 
the  church,  are  also  guilty  before  God  and  will  have  to 
stand  with  me  before  His  judgment  throne,  where  we  shall 
all  be  righteously  judged. 


582  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

"If  it  had  not  been  for  the  saloons  of  my  town,  I  never 
would  have  become  a  drunkard ;  my  wife  would  not  have 
been  murdered ;  I  would  not  be  here  now,  soon  to  be  hurled 
into  eternity. 

"For  one  year  our  town  was  without  a  saloon.  For  one 
year  I  was  a  sober  man.  For  one  year  my  wife  and  children 
were  happy  and  our  little  home  was  a  paradise. 

"I  was  one  of  those  who  signed  remonstrances  against  re- 
opening the  saloons  of  our  town  One-half  of  this  jury,  the 
prosecuting  attorney  on  this  case,  and  the  judge  who  sits 
on  this  bench,  all  voted  for  the  saloons.  By  their  votes  and 
influence  the  saloons  were  opened,  and  they  have  made  me 
what  I  am. 

"Think  you  that  the  Great  Judge  will  hold  me — the  poor, 
weak,  helpless  victim — alone  responsible  for  the  murder  of 
my  wife  ?  Nay ;  I,  in  my  drunken,  frenzied,  irresponsible 
condition  have  murdered  one;  but  you  have  deliberately 
voted  for  the  saloons  which  have  murdered  thousands,  and 
they  are  in  full  operation  today  with  your  consent.  You 
legalized  the  saloons  that  made  me  a  drunkard  and  a  mur- 
derer, and  you  are  guilty  with  me  before  God  and  man  for 
the  murder  of  my  wife. 

"I  will  close  by  solemnly  asking  God  to  open  your  blind 
eyes  to  your  own  individual  responsibility,  so  that  you  will 
cease  to  give  your  support  to  this  hell-born  traffic." — Set. 

MOTHER'S  FACE. 

There's  a  feeling  comes  across  me — 

Comes  across  me  often  now — 
And  it  deepest  seems  when  trouble 

Lays  her  finger  on  my  brow; 
O  it  is  a  deep,  deep  feeling, 

Neither  happiness  nor  pain! 
'Tis  a  mighty,  soulful  longing 

To  see  mother's  face  again! 


OR    A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  583 

'Tis,  I  think,  a  natural  feeling; 

Worst   of  me,  I  can't  control 
Myself  no  more!      It  seems  to   stir 

And  thrill  my  very  soul! 
Try  to  laugh  it  off — but  useless! 

Oh!  my  tears  will  fall  like  rain 
When  I  get  this  soulful  longing 

Just  to  see  her  face  again! 

You  won't  know  how  much  you  love  her 

(Your  old   mother)    till  you  roam 
'Way  off  where  her  voice  can't  reach  you, 

And  with  strangers  make  your  home; 
Then  you'll  know  how  big  your  heart  is, 

Think  you   never  loved  before, 
When  you  get  this  mighty  longing 

Just  to  see  her  face  once  more. 

Mother!  tender,  loving  soul! 

Heaven  bless  her  dear  old  face! 
I'd  give  half  my  years  remaining 

Just  to  give  her  one  embrace; 
Or  to  shower  love-warm  kisses 

On  her  lips,  and  cheeks,  and  brow, 
And  appease  this  mighty  longing 

That  I  get  so  often  now!  — Sel. 

ONLY  SIXTEEN. 

Only  sixteen,  so  the  papers  say, 
Yet  there  on  the  cold,  stony  ground  he  lay; 
'Tis  the  same  sad  story  we  hear  every  day. 
He  came  to  his  death  in  the  public  highway. 
Full  of  promise,  talent  and  pride, 
Yet  the  rum  fiend  conquered  him — so  he  died. 
Did  not  the  angels  weep  o'er  the  scene? 
For  he  died  a  drunkard  and  only  sixteen. 
Only  sixteen. 

Oh!  it  were  sad  he  must  die  all  alone, 
That  of  all  his  friends,  not  even  one 
Was  there  to  list  to  his  last  faint  moan, 
Or  point  the  suffering  soul  to  the  throne 
Of  grace.     If,  perchance,  God's  only  Son 
Would  say,  ' '  Whosoever  will  may  come. ' ' — 
But  we  hasten  to  draw  a  veil  over  the  scene, 
With  his  God  we  leave  him — only  sixteen. 
Only  sixteen. 

Eumseller,  come  view  the  work  you  have  wrought! 
Witness  the  suffering  and  pain  you  have  brought 
To  the  poor  boy 's  friends ;  they  loved  him  well, 
And  yet  you  dared  the  vile  beverage  to  sell 


584  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

That  beclouded  his  brain,  his  reason  dethroned, 
And  left  him  to  die  out  there  all  alone. 
What  if  't  were  your  son  instead  of  another? 
What  if  your  wife  were  that  poor  boy's  mother? 
And  he  only  sixteen. 

Ye  freeholders  who  signed  the  petition  to  grant 
The  license  to  sell,  do  you  think  you  will  want 
That  record  to  meet  in  the  last  great  day 
When  heaven  and  earth  shall  have  passed  away, 
When  the  elements  melting  with  fervent  heat 
Shall  proclaim  the  triumph  of  right  complete? 
Will  you  wish  to  have  his  blood  on  your  hands 
When  before  the  great  throne  you  each  shall  stand? 
And  he  only  sixteen. 

Christian  men!  rouse  ye  to  stand  for  the  right, 
To  action  and  duty;  into  the  light. 
Come  with  your  banners  inscribed:     " Death  to  ruin." 
Let  your  conscience  speak,  listen,  then  come; 
Strike  killing  blows;  hew  to  the  line; 
Make  it  a  felony  even  to  sign 
A  petition  to  license;  you  would  do  it  I  ween 
If  that  were  your  son  and  he  only  sixteen, 
Only  sixteen. 

THE  DRESS  QUESTION. 

One  day,  at  Louisville,  riding  with  Mrs.  Wheaton  to  visit 
the  sick  prisoners,  she  said,  "Do  you  think  it  your  duty  to 
rebuke  Christians  who  wear  jewelry?"  I  saw  her  question 
was  a  kindly  reproof  to  me,  and  said,  "If  the  Lord  wants 
me  to  give  up  the  jewelry  I  have,  He  will  show  me."  Yes, 
He  will,"  she  answered ;  "for  I  am  praying  for  you."  The 
next  morning  the  friend  who  was  entertaining  me  told  me 
her  little  eleven-year-old  daughter,  Emma,  just  converted, 
said,  "Mamma,  I  wish  you  would  read  to  me  in  the  Bible 
where  it  says  not  to  wear  jewelry."  The  mother  read  the 
verses.  Then  the  child  said,  "Mamma,  if  the  Lord  does 
not  want  me  to  wear  jewelry,  I  don't  want  to;"  and  she 
brought  her  little  pin  and  ring  to  her  mother.  I  took  my 
Bible  and  read,  "Whose  adorning,  let  it  not  be  that  outward 
adorning  of  plaiting  the  hair  and  of  wearing  of  gold,  or  of 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  585 

putting  on  of  apparel ;  but  let  it  be  the  hidden  man  of  the 
heart,  in  that  which  is  not  corruptible,  even  the  ornament 
of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  which  is  in  the  sight  of  God  of 
great  price"  (i  Peter  ii,  3,  4)  ;  and,  "In  like  maner  also, 
that  women  adorn  themselves  in  modest  apparel,  with 
shamefacedness  and  sobriety,  not  with  braided  hair  or  gold 
or  pearls  or  costly  array,  but  (which  becometh  women  pro- 
fessing godliness)  with  good  works."  (i  Tim.  ii,  9,  10.) 
Then  I  thought :  "The  child  is  right.  The  Bible  means  just 
what  it  says."  Then  I  recalled  that  Mrs.  Wheaton  had  told 
me  how  she  went  one  day  to  visit  a  poor,  sick  girl,  to  whom 
she  had  talked  of  the  love  of  Christ  until  she  was  almost 
won.  She  went  again  with  a  wealthy  woman,  who  was 
decked  with  diamonds.  As  they  entered  the  room,  the  girl 
pointed  to  the  jewels,  and  said:  "O  mother,  mother!  I 
have  wanted  them  all  my  life !"  The  rich  woman  tried  to 
hide  her  diamonds,  and  Mrs.  Wheaton  tried  to  turn  the 
girl's  attention  again  to  the  Savior,  but  in  vain.  Her  last 
thought  was  of  the  diamonds,  and  her  last  words,  "I  have 
wanted  them  all  my  life !" 

Sitting  there,  with  this  incident  fresh  in  my  mind,  I  quiet- 
ly slipped  off  ring,  watch,  chain,  cuff-buttons,  and  collar- 
stud  ;  and  gold,  as  an  adornment,  was  put  away  forever. — • 
Abbie  C.  Morrow,  in  Revival  Advocate,  March  7,  1901. 

SONGS  USED  IN  MY  WORK. 
ROCK  ME  TO  SLEEP,  MOTHER. 

"Backward,  turn  backward,  oh  time  in  your  flight, 
Make  me  a  child  again  just  for  tonight. 
Mother,  come  back  from  that  echoless  shore, 
Take  me  again  to  your  arms  as  of  yore ; 
Kiss  from  my  forehead  the  furrows  of  care, 
Smooth  the  few  silver  threads  ©ut  of  my  hair ; 
Over  my  slumbers  your  loving  watch  keep, 
Rock  me  to  sleep,  mother,  rock  me  to  sleep." 


586  PRISONS  AND  PRAYER 

LIFE'S  RAILWAY  TO  HEAVEN. 

Life  is  like  a  mountain  railroad, 

With  an  engineer  that's  brave ; 
We  must  make  the  run  successful, 

From  the  cradle  to  the  grave ; 
Watch  the  curves,  the  fills,  the  tunnels; 

Never  falter,  never  quail ; 
Keep  your  hand  upon  the  throttle, 

And  your  eye  upon  the  rail. 
CHORUS  : 

Blessed  Savior,  Thou  wilt  guide  us 

Till  we  reach  that  blissful  shore; 
Where  the  angels  wait  to  join  us 

In  Thy  praise  forevermore. 

You  will  roll  up  grades  of  trials; 

You  will  cross  the  bridge  of  strife; 
See  that  Christ  is  your  conductor 

On  this  lightning  train  of  life ; 
Always  mindful  of  obstructions; 

Do  your  duty,  never  fail ; 
Keep  your  hand  upon  the  throttle, 

And  your  eye  upon  the  rail. 

You  will  often  find  obstructions ; 

Look  for  storms  of  wind  and  rain; 
On  a  fill,  or  curve,  or  trestle, 

They  will  almost  ditch  your  train; 
Put  your  trust  alone  in  Jesus; 

Never  falter,  never  fail ; 
Keep  your  hand  upon  the  throttle, 
x     And  your  eye  upon  the  rail. 

As  you  roll  across  the  trestle, 

Spanning  Jordan's  swelling  tide, 
You  behold  the  Union  Depot 

Into  which  your  train  will  glide ; 
There  you'll  meet  the  Superintendent, 

God  the  Father,  God  the  Son 
With  the  hearty,   joyous  plaudit, 

Weary  pilgrim,  welcome  home. 

By  permission  of  Charlie  D    Tillman,  owner  of  copyright. 


OR   A    LABOR  OF   LOVE  587 

MEET  ME  THERE. 

1.  On  the  happy  golden  shore, 

Where  the  faithful  part  no  more, 
When  the  storms  of  life  are  o'er, 

Meet  me  there. 

Where  the  night  dissolves  away, 
Into  pure  and  perfect  day, 
I  am  going  home  to  stay, 

Meet  me  there. 

CHORUS: 
Meet  me  there. 
Meet  me  there, 
Where  the  tree  of  life  is  blooming 

Meet  me  there. 

When  the  storms  of  life  are  o'er, 
On  the  happy  golden  shore, 
Where  the  faithful  part  no  more, 
Meet  me  there. 

2.  Here  our  fondest  hopes  are  vain, 
Dearest  links  are  rent  in  twain, 
But  in  heav'n  no  throbs  of  pain, 

Meet  me  there. 
By  the  river  sparkling  bright, 
In  the  city  of  delight 
Where  our  faith  is  lost  in  sight, 

Meet  me  there. 

3.  Where  the  harps  of  angels  ring, 

And  the  blest  forever  sing, 
In  the  palace  of  the  king, 

Meet  me  there. 

Where  in  sweet  communion  blend, 
Heart  with  heart  and  friend  with  friend ; 
In  a  world  that  ne'er  shall  end, 

Meet  me  there. 

Words  and  music  copyrighted  by  W.  /.  Kirkpatrick,  Phil- 
adelphia. 

GOD  BLESS  MY  BOY 

I.  When  shining  stars  their  vigils  keep, 

And  all  the  world  is  hushed  in  sleep, 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYF* 

'Tis  then  I  breathe  this  pray'r  so  deep — 
God  bless  my  boy  tonight. 

CHORUS  : 
God  bless  my  boy,  my  wandering  boy. 

And  keep  his  honor  bright; 
May  he  come  home — no  longer  roam — 

God  save  my  boy  tonight. 

2.  I  know  not  where  his  head  may  lie, 
Perchance  beneath  the  open  sky; 
But  this  I  ween,  God's  watchful  eye 

Can  see  my  boy  tonight. 

3.  As  pass  the  days,  the  months  and  years, 

With  all  the  change,  the  hopes  and  fears, 
God  make  each  step  of  duty  clear, 
And  keep  his  honor  bright. 

4.  And  when  at  last  his  work  is  o'er, 
And  earthly  toil  shall  be  no  more, 
May  angels  guide  him  to  the  shore 

Where  there  shall  be  no  night. 

THE  GREAT  JUDGMENT  MORNING. 

Tune — ' l  Kathleen  Mavourneen. ' ' 
One  cold  Winter  eve  when  the  snow  was  fast  falling 

In  a  small,  humble  cottage  a  poor  mother  laid ; 
Although  racked  with  pain  she  lay  there  contented 

With  Christ  as  her  Friend  and  her  peace  with  Him  made. 

CHORUS  : 
We  shall  all  meet  again  on  the  great  judgment  morning, 

The  books  will  be  opened,  the  roll  will  be  called; 
How  sad  it  will  be  if  forever  we're  parted, 

And  shut  out  of  heaven  for  not  loving  God ! 

That  mother  of  yours  has  gone  over  death's  river. 

You  promised  you'd  meet  her  as  you  knelt  by  her  bed, 
While  the  death  sweat  rolled  from  her  and  fell  on  the  pil- 
low; 

Her  memory  still  speaketh,  although  she  is  dead. 


OR   A  LABOR   OF   LOVE  589 

You  remembf  r  the  kiss  and  the  last  words  she  uttered, 
The  arms  tli.it  embraced  you  are  mouldering  away ; 

As  you  stood  6y  her  grave  and  dropped  tears  on  her  coffin, 
With  a  vcw  that  you'd  meet  her,  you  walked  slowly  away. 

My  brother,  my  sister,  get  ready  to  meet  her, 

The  life  that  you  now  live  is  ebbing  away, 
But  the  life  that's  to  come  lasts  forever  and  ever, 

May  we  meet  ne'er  to  part  on  that  great  judgment  day! 

MY  NAME  IN  MOTHER'S  PRAYER. 

'Twas  in  the  days  of  careless  youth 

When  life  seemed  fair  and  bright, 
When  ne'er  a  tear,  nor  scarce  a  fear 

O'er  cast  my  day  or  night. 
Twas  in  the  quiet  even  tide, 

I  passed  her  kneeling  there, 
When  just  one  word  I  tho't  I  heard 

My  name,  my  name  in  mother's  prayer. 

CHORUS. 
My  name,  my  name  in  mother's  prayer, 

My  name  in  mother's  prayer! 
There  is  just  one  word  I  tho't  I  heard 

My  name,  my  name  in  mother's  prayer. 

I  wandered  on,  but  heeded  not 

God's  oft  repeated  call, 
To  turn  from  sin  and  live  for  Him, 

And  trust  to  Him  my  all  in  all. 
But  when  at  last  convinced  of  sin*, 

I  sank  in  deep  despair, 
My  soul  awoke  when  memory  spoke 

My  name,  my  name  in  mother's  prayer. 

That  kneeling  form,  those  folded  hands. 

Have  vanished  in  the  dust ; 
But  still  for  me  for  years  shall  be 

The  memory  of  her  trust. 
And  when  I  cross  dark  Jordan's  tide, 

I'll  meet  her  over  there; 
I'll  praise  the  Lord,  and  bless  the  word, 

That  word,  my  name  in  mother's  prayer  I 


590  PRISONS   AND    PRAYER 

OVER  THERE. 
Come  all  ye  scattered  race, 
And  the  Savior's  love  embrace; 
You  may  see  His  smiling  face 

Yet  with  care ; 
He  is  on  the  giving  hand, 
Will  you  come  at  His  command, 
Will  you  with  the  angels  stand 

Over  there? 

CHORUS. 

Over  there,  over  there, 
There's  a  land  of  pure  delight 

Over  there, 

We  will  lay  our  burdens  down, 
And  at  Jesus'  feet  sit  down, 
And  we'll  wear  a  starry  crown, 

Over  there. 

Yes,  He  went  to  Calvary, 

And  they  nailed  Him  to  the  tree, 

That  poor  sinners  such  as  we, 

He  might  spare ; 
From  the  bitter  pangs  of  death, 
He  does  with  His  dying  breath, 
Seal  an  everlasting  rest, 

Over  there. 

God  has  placed  us  on  the  field, 
•  To  the  foe  we  will  not  yield, 

On  our  tower  we  will  stand, 

By  His  care. 

Wave  the  Christian's  banner  high, 
Hold  it  up  until  we  die, 
And  go  home  to  live  with  God, 

Over  there. 

THIS  WAY. 
Our  life  is  like  a  stormy  sea, 

Swept  by  the  gales  of  sin  and  grief, 
While  on  the  windward  and  the  lee, 

Hangs  heavy  clouds  of  unbelief ; 


OR    A    LABOR    OF    LOVE  5QI 

Out  o'er  the  deep  a  call  we  hear, 
Like  harbor  bell's  inviting  voice ; 

It  tells  the  lost  that  hope  is  near, 
And  bids  the  trembling  soul  rejoice. 

CHORUS. 
This  way,  this  way,  O  heart  oppressed, 

So  long  by  storm  and  tempest  driven, 
This  way,  this  way,  lo  here  is  rest, 

Rings  out  the  harbor  bell,  of  heaven. 

O  tempted  one,  look  up,  be  strong; 

The  promise  of  the  Lord  is  sure, 
That  they  shall  sing  the  victor's  song, 

Who  faithful  to  the  end  endure ; 
God's  Holy  Spirit  comes  to  thee, 

Of  this  abiding  love  to  tell ; 
To  blissful  port,  o'er  stormy  sea, 

Calls  heaven's  inviting  harbor  bell. 

MORE  TO  BE  PITIED  THAN  CENSURED. 
There's  an  old  concert  hall  on  the  bowery 

Where  were  assembled  together  one  night 
A  crowd  of  young  fellows  carousing, 

To  them  life  looked  happy  and  bright. 
At  the  very  next  table  was  seated 

A  girl  that  had  fallen  to  shame ; 
How  the  fellows  they  laughed  at  her  downfall, 

When  they  heard  an  old  woman  exclaim : 

CHORUS. 
"She's  more  to  be  pitied  than  censured, 

She  is  more  to  be  loved  than  despised; 
She  is  only  a  poor  girl  who  ventured 

On  life's  rugged  path  ill-advised. 
Don't  scorn  her  with  words  fierce  and  bitter, 

Don't  laugh  at  her  shame  and  downfall, 
Just  pause  tor  a  moment — consider, 

That  sin  was  the  cause  of  it  all." 

There's  an  old-fashioned  church  'round  the  corner, 

Where  the  neighbors  all  gathered  one  day, 
To  listen  to  words  from  the  parson, 


592  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

For  a  soul  that  had  just  passed  away. 
'Twas  the  same  wayward  girl  from  the  bowery, 

Who  a  life  of  adventure  had  led ; 
Did  the  parson  then  laugh  at  her  downfall? 

No,  he  prayed  and  wept  as  he  said: 

SOME  MOTHER'S  CHILD. 

At  home  or  away,  in  the  alley  or  street, 
Wherever  I  chance  in  this  wide  world  to  meet 
A  girl  that  is  thoughtless  or  a  boy  that  is  wild, 
My  heart  echoes  softly:     It  is  some  mother's  child. 

CHORUS. 

Some  mother's  child, 
Some  mother's  child, 
My  heart  echoes  softly : 
It  is  some  mother's  child. 

And  when  I  see  those  o'er  whom  long  years  have  rolled, 
Whose  hearts  have  grown  hardened,  whose  spirits  are  cold ; 
Be  it  woman  all  fallen,  or  man  all  defiled, 
A  voice  whispers  sadly :    It  is  some  mother's  child. 

No  matter  how  far  from  right  she  hath  strayed ; 

No  matter  what  inroad  dishonor  hath  made ; 

No  matter  what  elements  cankered  the  pearl; 

Though  tarnished  and  sullied,  she  is  some  mother's  girl. 

No  matter  how  deep  he  is  sunken  in  sin ; 

No  matter  how  much  he  is  shunned  by  his  kin ; 

No  matter  how  low  is  his  standard  of  joy ; 

Though  guilty  and  loathsome,  he  is  some  mother's  boy. 

That  head  hath  been  pillowed  on  tenderest  breast ; 
That  form  hath  been  wept  o'er,  those  lips  have  been  pressed ; 
That  soul  hath  been  prayed  for  in  tones  sweet  and  mild; 
For  her  sake  deal  gently  with  some  mother's  child. 

Used  by  permission  of  Charlie  D.  Tillman,  owner  of  copy- 
right. 

JUST  TELL  MY  MOTHER. 

'Twas  in  a  Gospel  Mission,  in  a  distant  western  town, 
The  meeting  there  that  night  had  just  begun, 


OR   A    LABOR   OF    LOVE  593 

When  in  came  a  poor  lost  sinner  who  by  sin  had  been  cast 

down, 

Thinking  perhaps  that  he  might  have  some  fun ; 
But  as  he  heard  of  Jesus'  love,  of  pardon  full  and  free, 

He  sought  it  and  the  wanderer  ceased  to  roam. 
And  going  to  his  room  that  night,  his  heart  all  filled  with 

joy, 
He  wrote  a  letter  to  the  folks  at  home. 

CHORUS. 
Just  tell  my  dear  old  mother,  my  wandering  days  are  o'er, 

Just  tell  her  that  my  sins  are  all  forgiven, 
Just  tell  her  that  if  on  earth  we  chance  to  meet  no  more, 

Her  prayers  are  answered  and  we'll  meet  in  Heaven. 

His  mother  got  the  message  as  she  lay  at  death's  dark  door, 
Which  told  her  of  her  boy  so  far  away, 
How  his  sins  were  all  forgiven  and  wandering  days  were 

o'er, 

.  And  that  his  feet  were  on  the  narrow  way. 
Her  heart  was  filled  with  gladness,  as  it  had  not  been  for 

years, 

Her  dear  old  face  was  all  lit  up  with  joy, 
As  on  her  dying  pillow  she  said  amid  her  tears, 
God  bless  and  keep  my  precious  darling  boy. 

Your  mothers  have  prayed  for  you,  my  friends,  for  many 

and  many  a  day, 

Perhaps  these  days  of  life  will  soon  be  o'er, 
Come,  give  your  hearts  to  Jesus,  get  on  the  narrow  way, 

And  meet  her  on  that  happy  golden  shore. 
Oh,  come  just  now  while  still  there's  room,  and  pardon  free 

for  all. 

The  Savior  pleads,  oh,  do  not  longer  roam. 
And   then    with   Jesus    in    your   heart,    you    will    send    the 

message 
To  your  dear  mother,  praying  still  for  you  at  home. 

SOON  THE  DEATH-BELL  WILL  TOLL. 

When  the  last  Gospel  message  has  been  told  in  your  ears. 
And  the  last  solemn  warning  has  been  given  you  in  tears ; 


594  PRISONS    AND    1'UAYEK 

When  hope  shall  escape  from  its  place  in  your  breast, 
Oh,  where  will  your  poor  weary  soul  find  its  rest? 

CHORUS. 

Soon  the  death-bell  will  toll — look  after  your  soul ; 
O,  sinner  be  ready,  for  the  death-bell  will  toll. 

When  the  darkness  of  death  shall  compass  you  round, 
When  the  friends  you  have  loved  are  all  standing  around ; 
Unable  to  save  you  now  from  the  tomb, 
Unable  to  alter  your  terrible  doom. 

When  before  the  white  throne  of  His  Judgment  you  stand, 
"What  have  you  to  answer?"  the  Judge  will  demand; 
Oh,  terrible  moment  to  be  standing  alone, 
When  mercy  forever  and  forever  is  gone. 

THE  END  OF  THE  WAY. 

The  following  beautiful  lines  were  written  by  a  girl  in 
Nova  Scotia,  an  invalid  for  many  years : 

My  life  is  a  wearisome  journey ; 

I'm  sick  of  the  dust  and  the  heat ; 
The  rays  of  the  sun  beat  upon  me, 

The  briars  are  wounding  my  feet. 
But  the  city  to  which  I  am  journeying 
Will  more  than  my  trials  repay ; 
All  the  toils  of  the  road  will  seem  nothing 

When  I  get  to  the  end  of  the  way. 

There  are  so  many  hills  to  climb  upward, 

I  often  am  longing  for  rest, 
But  He  who  appoints  me  the  pathway 
'    Knows  what  is  needed  and  best. 
I  know  in  His  word  He  has  promised 

That  my  strength  shall  be  as  my  day ; 
And  the  toils  of  the  road  will  seem  nothing 

When  I  get  to  the  end  of  the  way. 

He  loves  me  too  well  to  forsake  me, 

Or  give  me  one  trial  too  much ; 
All  His  people  have  been  dearly  purchased, 

And  Satan  can  never  claim  such. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  595 

By  and  by  I  shall  see  Him  and  praise  Him, 

In  the  city  of  unending  day ; 
And  the  toils  of  the  road  will  seem  nothing 

When  I  get  to  the  end  of  the  way. 

When  the  last  feeble  steps  have  been  taken, 

And  the  gates  of  the  city  appear, 
And  the  beautiful  songs  of  the  angels     . 

Float  out  on  my  listening  ear ; 
When  all  that  now  seems  so  mysterious 

Will  be  plain  and  clear  as  the  day — 
Yes,  the  toils  of  the  road  will  seem  nothing 

When  I  get  to  the  end  of  the  way. 

•  • 
Though  now  I  am  footsore  and  weary, 

.1  shall  rest  when  I'm  safely  at  home; 
I  know  I'll  receive  a  glad  welcome, 

For  the  Savior  Himself  has  said  "Come." 
So,  when  I  am  weary  in  body, 

And  sinking  in  spirit  I  say, 
All  the  toils  of  the  road  will  seem  nothing 

When  I  get  to  the  end  of  the  way. 

Cooling  fountains  are  there  for  the  thirsty, 

There  are  cordials  for  those  who  are  faint : 
There  are  robes  that  are  whiter  and  purer 

Than  any  that  fancy  can  paint. 
Then  I'll  try  to  press  hopefully  onward, 

Thinking  often  through  each  weary  day, 
The  toils  of  the  road  will  seem  nothing 

When  I  get  to  the  end  of  the  way. 


Appendix. 

The  matter  which  I  have  here  appended  I  thought  of 
too  much  value  to  omit  from  this  volume.  The  first  article 
is  explanatory  in  itself.  The  second  is  by  a  prisoner  whom 
I  have  known  for  many  years.  The  third  (regarding 
Christ  in  Gethsemane)  was  written  by  a  prisoner  as  a  letter 
to  myself.  I  hope  the  reader  may  profit  by  the  reading 
of  each  page.  E.  R.  W. 

THE  PERSONNEL  OF  PRISON  MANAGEMENT. 

Address  of  C.  E.  Haddox,  warden  of  the  West  Virginia  peniten- 
tiary, to  the  National  Prison  Association,  at  its  annual  session, 
Louisville,  Ky.,  Congress  of  1903: 

This  is  the  age  of  industrial  development.  On  every  side 
we  see  colossal  enterprises  undertaken  and  prosecuted  to 
a  successful  and  profitable  conclusion. 

Great  railroad  systems  span  the  continent,  carrying  mil- 
lions of  passengers  and  countless  tons  of  freight,  with 
safety,  celerity  and  dispatch,  to  the  doors  of  factory,  work- 
shop, store  and  consumer. 

Immense  industrial  enterprises  are  constantly  being  pro- 
jected, consolidated  and  carried  on  in  a  manner  to  excite 
the  admiration,  mayhap,  the  wonder  and  fear  of  mankind. 

Colossal  financial  transactions  amaze  the  minds  of  those 
uninitiated  to  the  magnitude  and  the  intricacies  of  such 
undertakings. 

The  unexplored  recesses  of  the  earth  are  exploited  in  a 
manner  and  on  a  scale  heretofore  undreamed  of  and  un- 
known, and  every  department  of  enterprise  is  carried  on 
to  a  degree  that  distinctly  stamps  this  decade  as  the  acme 
of  industrial  enterprise  and  achievements,  the  golden  age 
of  industrial  prosperity,  and  the  acquirement  of  material 
improvement  and  material  gain. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  597 

If  it  be  asked  why  such  strides  have  been  made  along 
industrial  lines,  the  answer  is  that  it  is  due  to  ORGANIZATION 

AND  SPECIALIZATION. 

The  PERSONNEL  of  the  management  have  devoted 
their  lives,  their  talent  and  their  energies  to  the  special 
work  before  them.  They  have  been  drilled  and  educated 
along  special  lines;  they  have  been  deaf  and  blind  to  out- 
side matters  not  relevant  to  the  work  in  hand,  and  by  close 
and  careful  study,  by  unceasing  and  constant  labor,  care  and 
effort,  having  evolved,  projected  and  carried  on  these  im- 
mense enterprises. 

The  National  Prison  Congress  at  its  meeting  this  year  is 
mindful  of  the  material  progress  of  the  country. 

This  association  is  equally  ambitious  along  the  lines  pe- 
culiar to  itself  to  obtain  from  the  various  penal  institutions 
of  the  country  the  highest  and  best  results  morally,  educa- 
tionally, reformatively,  and  as  an  incident,  punitively  and 
financially. 

How  shall  we  keep  pace  in  penal  improvements  with  the 
great  material  progress  of  the  outside  world? 

The  answer  necessarily  must  be,  that  improvements  in  our 
department  of  work  must  come,  as  they  do  elsewhere,  by 
the  investigation,  the  study,  the  thought  and  the  effort  of 
those  who  are  in  actual  control,  of  those  who  are  in  a  posi- 
tion to  see,  to  observe  and  to  know. 

In  other  words,  the  question  as  to  whether  prisons  are 
to  improve,  whether  their  work  shall  continue  to  be  of  a 
higher  and  nobler  character,  whether  we  are  finally  and 
forever  to  break  away  from  the  customs  of  the  galleys  of 
France,  the  prisons  of  Hawes  in  England,  of  the  Mamer- 
tine  of  Rome  and  of  Rothenburg  in  Germany,  will  depend 
utterly,  entirely  and  absolutely  upon  the  personnel  of  the 
prison  management  of  the  country. 


598  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Prof.  Henderson,  in  his  admirable  address  delivered  at 
the  Philadelphia  meeting  in  1902,  on  "The  Social  Position 
of  the  Prison  Warden,"  says:  "Some  institutions  have  no 
marked  qualities;  they  have  walls,  cells,  machinery,  prison- 
ers, punishments,  but  no  distinct,  consistent  and  rational 
policy." 

Where  this  is  true  it  means  that  the  worst  possible  con- 
dition of  affairs  exists.  Such  an  institution  has  the  dry 
rot.  It  is  managed  (or  rather  mismanaged)  by  time 
servers,  too  careless  to  feel  the  high  responsibility  devolving 
upon  them,  and  too  listless  to  acquaint  themselves  with  the 
many  opportunities  spread  before  them  to  improve  and 
keep  pace  with  the  onward  march  of  progress. 

Such  officers  in  their  abuse,  by  inaction,  of  the  opportu- 
nities afforded  them,  commit  "Crimes  against  criminals" 
and  through  them  against  society. 

On  the  contrary  institutions  which  have  distinct  features 
and  characteristics,  have  them  as  the  result  of  the  care- 
ful investigation,  the  patient  research  and  thought  of  those 
who  are  in  responsible  and  actual  control,  and  these  charac- 
teristics and  features  reflect  the  wisdom  and  intelligence 
of  those  who  have  given  their  energies  and  their  lives  to 
the  special  work  before  them. 

THE   BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS. 

In  the  management  of  penal  institutions  a  Board  of  Di- 
rectors or  of  Control  is,  ordinarily,  the  nominal  head. 

By  the  laws  of  most  states  they  are  supposed  to  fix  the 
administration  policy,  to  restrict  and  define  the  powers  and 
duties  of  the  officers  in  actual  and  intimate  control. 

In  some  institutions  they  meet  a  day  or  so  each  month, 
in  most  institutions  not  so  frequently.  Their  duties  while 
at  the  institution  may  or  may  not  be  largely  perfunctory, 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  599 

and  as  they  are  generally  active  business  men  at  home  in 
other  channels,  the  day  or  two  a  month  or  quarter  is  apt 
to  be  regarded  by  the  unthoughtful  as  a  respite  or  surcease 
from  other  duties.  The  mam  duty  of  a  Board  of  Directors 
or  of  Control  may  be  said  to  be  the  determining  of  the 
general  policy  upon  which  the  institution  shall  be  con- 
ducted, and  a  cursory  oversight  of  the  conduct  of  its  affairs. 

THE    WARDEN. 

The  warden  or  superintendent  is  the  one  official  who  can 
give  tone,  expression  and  color  to  the  institution.  He  is 
distinctly  and  positively  its  actual  managing  head,  and 
upon  his  intelligence,  interest,  zeal,  tact  and  discretion  will 
depend,  almost  entirely,  its  weal  or  its  woe. 

He  must  be  a  man  of  intelligence,  and  be  willing  and 
anxious  to  increase  his  fund  of  knowledge  and  information. 

He  should  be  a  profound  student  not  only  of  the  ordinary 
subjects  that  attract  the  student,  but  of  prison  systems,  of 
laws,  business,  government,  society  as  it  exists,  and  of 
human  nature  in  all  its  many  phases. 

HE    MUST    BE   AN   ORGANIZER. 

No  difference  how  elaborate  a  system  may  be  found  in 
any  institution  of  this  kind,  the  warden  will  always  be  an 
intensely  busy  and  greatly  occupied  officer. 

If  he  would  prevent  chaos  and  confusion  and  obtain 
from  every  official  the  highest  and  best  work  of  which  he 
is  capable,  he  must  organize  every  department  thoroughly. 
Every  officer  and  every  inmate  must  know  his  exact  duties, 
so  far  as  it  is  possible  to  know  them,  and  be  made  respon- 
sible for  those  duties  and  the  warden  nr.ist  be  enabled  to  ap- 
preciate a  high  order  of  talent  and  the  accomplishment  of 
good  work,  and  to  locate  the  blame  for  omissions  and  short 
comings,  and  provide  for  their  correction. 


600  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Thorough  system  in  every  detail  will  conserve  the  ca- 
pacities of  all  his  subordinates  and  leave  him  in  a  measure 
free  to  observe  the  actual  conditions  and  to  plan  and  to  put 
into  effect  improvements  along  moral,  industrial,  physical 
and  financial  lines. 

HE  MUST  BE  A  FINANCIER. 

The  financial  question  in  every  prison  in  the  land  is  an 
extremely  important  one.  Funds  for  prisons  are  doled  out 
grudgingly,  and  the  demand  for  absolutely  necessary  pur- 
poses is  always  far  greater  than  the  supply. 

A  warden  performs  no  more  important  function  than 
when  he  sees  that  the  funds  of  the  institution  are  so  used 
as  to  effect  the  highest  possible  results,  and  that  all  the 
forces  of  the  prison  are  so  energized  and  conserved  as  to 
permit,  under  ordinary  conditions,  a  satisfactory  and  proper 
earning  and  economizing  power.  With  the  many  demands 
made  upon  him  for  means  for  increasing  the  usefulness  of 
his  institution,  a  high  order  of  financial  aptitude  is  an  ab- 
solutely necessary  characteristic  in  a  successful  warden. 

DISCIPLINE. 

Discipline  in  a  prison  is  its  first  requisite.  Nothing  can 
be  accomplished  until  officers  and  convicts  are  under  its 
sway  and  control. 

The  warden  who  would  have  control  of  those  under  him 
must  himself  at  all  times,  be  under  self  control. 

The  maxim  "No  one  knows  how  to  command  who  has 
not  first  learned  how  to  obey/'  is  a  trite  and  a  true  one.  The 
population  of  a  prison  is  made  up  of  a  heterogeneous  col- 
lection of  people  whose  first  instincts  have  been  and  are, 
not  to  obey. 

To  bring  such  people  into  habits  of  obedience  and  con- 
trol requires  the  highest  type  of  skill,  tact  and  discretion. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  6oi 

Punishments  and  reward  must  be  so  blended  and  com- 
bined as  to  effect  the  needful  results  with  the  least  possible 
friction,  and  in  the  most  humane  and  rational  manner  pos- 
sible. 

No  warden  can  afford  to  delegate  the  matter  of  enforcing 
discipline  entirely  or  partly,  if  at  all,  to  another.  His  first 
duty  to  himself,  that  he  may  know  actual  conditions  as  they 
exist,  is  to  preside  over  or  assist  in,  the  trial  of  offenders 
and  to  order  discipline. 

Individual  treatment  is  a  necessity  in  our  dealings  with 
delinquents,  and  a  study  of  the  many  phases  of  delinquency 
is  a  prime  requisite  in  a  successful  warden's  repertoire. 

Brainard  F.  Smith  says:  "Many  a  prisoner  has  been  re- 
formed— or,  if  not  reformed,  made  a  better  prisoner — by 
punishment." 

Will  the  warden  have  any  higher  duty  to  perform  than 
to  face  his  delinquent  delinquents  and  to  order  in  merciful 
severity,  rational  punishments  for  their  short-comings? 

But  a  warden's  disciplinary  powers  are  apt  to  be  taxed 
more  severely  in  another  direction.  The  great  problem  or- 
dinarily, is  not  so  much  the  discipline  of  convicts  as  that 
of  subordinate  officers.  If  subordinate  officers  will  obey 
the  spirit  and  the  letter  of  the  rules,  the  convict  has  the 
potential  influence  of  a  powerful  example  to  aid  him. 
"Like  master  like  man." 

In  institutions  where  officers  are  appointed  solely  with 
reference  to  their  fitness,  comparatively  little  trouble  should 
be  had  in  the  matter  of  proper  official  discipline.  But 
where  places  are  given  to  heelers,  ward-workers  and  po- 
litical strikers,  the  matter  of  efficient  discipline  is  a  question 
of  grave  concern  to  the  warden.  In  the  absence  of  better 
material,  however,  he  must  address  himself  to  organizing 


602  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

what  he  has  to  the  highest  efficiency  possible,  and  insist 
and  require  a  rigid  regimen  and  adhere  to  his  demands 
and  requirements  with  Spartan  firmness. 

THE  PRISON   SCHOOL.. 

The  educational  work  of  a  prison  is  of  the  highest,  I  may 
say,  of  the  first  importance.  The  education  of  the  hands 
to  work  comes  naturally,  partly  as  an  incident  of  the  neces- 
sary work  carried  on  in  prison. 

Nearly  all  convicts  are  densely  ignorant.  The  polished, 
scholarly,  shrewd  criminal  of  whom  we  hear  so  much,  and 
to  whom  the  papers  and  books  give  so  much  prominence, 
is  the  exception,  not  the  rule,  in  prison. 

If  the  prison  is  to  have  a  reformatory  feature,  it  must 
come  very  largely  through  the  school.  Many  prison  schools 
are  such  only  in  name.  The  work  accomplished  is  very 
meager.  The  results  are  very  unsatisfactory. 

To  no  part  of  prison  work  should  a  warden  address  him- 
self with  more  ardor  and  determination  than  so  to  organize 
the  prison  school  as  to  make  it  the  great  positive  factor  in 
dispelling  ignorance  and  its  attendant  viciousness,  and  in 
quickening  and  enlivening  the  moral  sense  in  those  whose 
moral  judgment  is  exceedingly  obtuse. 

The  course  of  study  in  a  prison  school  is  necessarily  a 
very  elementary  one,  and  unless  followed  by  a  supplemen- 
tary course  of  reading  and  study,  will  be  of  little  perma- 
nent and  practical  benefit.  Many  prison  libraries,  largely 
the  result  of  indiscriminate  and  heterogeneous  donations  of 
all  kinds  of  literature,  good,  bad  and  indifferent,  chiefly  the 
latter,  are  not  in  a  position  to  be  a  positive  force. 

Let  the  warden  see  that  his  library  is  so  arranged,  classi- 
fied and  used  as  to  be  a  source  of  information,  profit,  help 
and  pleasure  to  the  inmates,  and  that  a  course  of  reading 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  603 

along  rational  lines  is  laid  out,  encouraged,  and,  if  possible, 
adhered  to,  in  order  that  the  preliminary  school  course  may 
not  have  been  in  vain. 

COURAGE    NEEDED. 

The  warden  must  be  a  man  of  courage.  I  do  not  refer 
to  the  kind  of  courage  necessary  to  face  a  regiment  of  de- 
praved and  wicked  men  shorn  of  their  power  and  their 
stimulus  to  do  evil,  but  that  high  moral  courage  necessary 
to  clean  the  Augean  stables  of  abuses  of  customs,  to  re- 
verse policies  of  long  standing  that  are  nevertheless  wrong 
in  principle  and  in  practice,  to  fight  against  unjust,  im- 
proper and  unwise  legislative  propositions  concerning  his 
institution;  the  kind  of  courage  that  prompted  the  chap- 
lain in  Chas.  Reade's  " NEVER  TOO  LATE  TO  MEND,"  to 
fight  and  destroy  the  iniquitous  prison  system  of  Keeper 
Hawes  and  his  minions ;  the  courage  that  will  keep  to  the 
fore-front  a  persistent  opposition  to  prostituting  peniten- 
tiaries into  elemosynary  institutions  and  political  cribs  and 
feeding  troughs  for  political  strikers. 

He  must  have  the  courage  to  weed  out  and  eliminate  use- 
less barnacles  in  the  shape  of  incompetent  and  worthless 
employes,  and  substitute  in  their  stead  men  of  capacity, 
character  and  intelligence,  who  are  in  love  with  their  work 
and  believe  in  its  dignity  and  usefulness;  the  courage  to 
face  demagogues  in  their  efforts  to  take  from  the  prison 
its  educative,  moral,  reformatory  and  economic  force,  the 
right  of  the  unfortunate  inmates  to  learn  the  gospel  of 
labor  under  right  and  just  conditions. 

OPTIMISM  NECESSARY. 

The  warden  needs  to  be  intensely  optimistic.  He  must 
have  a  reserve  fund  of  enthusiasm.  He  must  believe  pro- 
foundly in  the  high  character  of  his  office  and  educate  oth- 


604  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

ers  constantly  to  believe  in  it.  The  ignorance  of  the  great 
mass  of  the  people  as  to  the  real  function  of  penitentiaries 
and  the  methods  by  which  they  are  carried  on  is  amazing 
and  mortifying  to  prison  officials. 

A  part  of  the  warden's  mission  is  to  acquaint  the  out- 
side world  with  conditions  as  they  exist  inside,  and  to  in- 
spire the  interest  and  support  of  the  general  public  in 
measures  for  bettering  and  improving  prison  conditions. 
Legislative  bodies  especially,  need  to  be  brought  into  closer 
relations  and  the  law  makers  made  to  realize  their  duty 
to  the  public  and  the  convict  in  the  enactment  of  wise, 
proper  and  righteous  legislation. 

Longfellow,  in  his  beautiful  poem,  "THE  BUILDING  OF 
THE  SHIP,"  tells  why  the  master  builder  achieved  success. 
It  was  because 

"His  heart  was  in  the  work  and  the  heart 
Giveth  grace  to  every  art." 

The  warden's  heart  must  be  in  his  work.  His  whole  soul 
must  be  animated  and  permeated  with  an  honest  and  sin- 
cere desire  to  bring  penology  up  to  a  higher  and  nobler 
standard. 

He  must  have  a  reserve  force  of  enthusiasm  that  will  not 
be  daunted  and  destroyed  by  temporary  failures  or  the 
lapses  of  some  discharged  or  pardoned  convicts,  who,  in 
spite  of  care  and  pains,  will  return  to  their  evil  ways.  The 
enthusiasm  that  can  bear  the  harsh  and  ignorant  criticism 
and  misrepresentations  incident  to  his  work;  the  enthusi- 
asm that  in  its  contagion  will  inoculate  directors,  subordi- 
nate officers,  the  press  and  the  people  with  a  desire  for 
more  light  on  penal  problems  and  a  purpose  to  be  gov- 
erned by  that  light;  the  enthusiasm  that  will  beget  great 
patience  for  the  exacting,  difficult  and  trying  problems  be- 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  605 

fore  him ;  that  will  make  him  believe  that  "a  convict  saved 
is  a  man  made" ;  that  will  make  him  believe  with  the  great 
English  novelist  "It  is  never  too  late  to  mend,"  and  that 
as  infinite  care  and  pains  finally  brought  Robinson,  the 
twice  convicted  thief,  up  to  the  estate  of  honest  manhood, 
so,  infinite  care  and  pains  should  be  exerted  with  every 
man  under  his  charge. 

Pessimism  has  no  rightful  place  in  a  penitentiary.  In  the 
language  of  Socrates,  "Why  should  we  who  are  never  angry 
at  an  ill-conditioned  body,  always  be  angry  with  an  ill- 
conditioned  soul?" 

The  ignorant  Hawes  believed  in  the  profitless  crank,  the 
black-hole,  the  deprivation  of  food,  of  bed,  of  clothing,  the 
tortures  of  the  waist  jacket  and  the  collar,  and  a  sign  over 
the  door,  "ABANDON  HOPE  ALL  YE  WHO  ENTER  HERE/' 

The  twentieth  century  warden  believes  in  the  gospel  of 
productive  labor,  of  education  of  hand,  head  and  heart,  in 
the  deprivation  of  privileges,  largely  as  punishment,  the 
segregation  of  the  desperate  and  nearly  hopeless,  the  en- 
lightenment of  an  all-powerful,  all  potential,  all  influential 
example  and  the  motto  of  Pope  Clement,  "It  is  of  little 
advantage  to  restrain  criminals  by  punishment  unless  you 
reform  them  with  training  and  teaching." 

THE  CHAPLAIN. 

The  chaplain  occupies  an  extremely  important  but  deli- 
cate position  in  prison  management.  It  is  possible  for  him 
to  be  of  vast  influence  and  power  for  good. 

The  chaplain  needs  to  be  a  man  of  large  heart,  aided  by 
an  abundance  of  sound  common  sense.  He  needs  to  bear 
in  mind  constantly,  in  the  difficult  and  delicate  work  he  is 
called  upon  to  perform,  that  the  discipline  of  the  prison 
must  be  upheld  and  enforced. 


606  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

Associate  officers  are  frequently  disturbed  with  the  fear 
that  the  chaplain's  influence  will  subvert  the  discipline  of 
the  prison ;  that  the  shrewd,  unprincipled  convicts  by  pour- 
ing into  his  ears  their  imaginary  tales  of  woe,  may  succeed 
in  working  him. 

The  chaplain's  first  requirement,  if  he  would  succeed,  is 
not  to  lose  sight  of  the  majesty  of  the  law  and  of  the 
prison  rules. 

The  chaplain  and  the  warden  should  go  hand  in  hand, 
the  one  sustaining  the  other.  They  need  to  have  a  perfect 
understanding,  neither  mistrusting  the  other.  Frequent 
conferences  ought  to  enable  them  to  proceed  along  proper 
lines.  The  chaplain's  opportunities  are  limitless.  I  do  not 
undertake  to  say  what  direction  his  duties  shall  take  him. 
That  will  be  discussed  fully  in  the  Chaplain's  Association. 

It  is  personal,  individual  work  that  counts  in  a  prison. 
All  the  chaplain's  work  should  be  thought  out  beforehand, 
be  methodical,  premeditated,  intentional,  systematic  and 
thorough.  His  chapel  service  should  be  rational,  oi  the 
proper  length,  with  exercises,  song  service  and  preaching 
service  carefully  chosen.  There  should  be  no  room  in  a 
prison  service  for  the  spectacular,  the  highly  emotional  and 
;the  haphazard  sermons  and  addresses  of  a  chance  visitor. 
A  reasonably  rigid  censorship  ought  to  be  exercised  over 
the  contributions  of  outsiders  to  the  chapel  service. 

The  influence  of  sight  seers  and  idle  visitors  to  prisons, 
always  bad,  reaches  the  acme  of  its  perniciousness  in  the 
chapel  service,  if  unrestrained  and  unguided  by  prison  of- 
ficials of  experience  and  firmness,  who  alone  are  in  a  posi- 
tion to  know  that  sickly  sentimentality  is  the  worst  pos- 
sible pabulum  to  offer  men  already  too  eager  to  justify 
their  evil  deeds. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  607 

THE  PHYSICIAN. 

A  physician's  duties  in  a  prison  are  necessarily  onerous, 
important  and  difficult.  Convicts  are  constantly  claiming 
that  they  are  unable  physically  to  do  the  work  assigned 
them.  No  one  can  determine  the  truthfulness  of  their 
statements  except  the  physician,  and  to  determine  whether 
the  convict  is  realy  ill  or  exercising  his  usual  finesse  to 
shirk  his  duties,  requires  keen  judgment  of  human  nature 
as  well  as  an  accurate  knowledge  of  his  profession. 

The  convict,  housed  and  hemmed  in,  is  peculiarly  suscep- 
tible to  hallucinations  and  to  thinking  that  he  is  afflicted 
with  imaginary  ills. 

A  physician  needs  a  large  fund  of  good  judgment,  will- 
power and  common  sense  to  combat  successfully  with  this 
class  of  people.  How  far  he  should  use  some  of  the  sub- 
terfuges supposed  to  be  employed  by  physicians  in  the  out- 
side world  in  dealing  with  people  afflicted  with  hypochron- 
dria,  I  am  unable  to  say,  but  a  certain  amount  of  cheerful- 
ness coupled  with  firmness  is  undoubtedly  of  great  value. 

SUBORDINATE   OFFICERS. 

The  subordinate  officers  of  a  prison  are  very  important 
factors  in  the  management  of  a  prison.  They  come  in 
actual,  cdntinual,  personal  contact  with  the  men. 

No  difference  how  capable  and  zealous  may  be  the 
warden  and  his  deputy,  unless  they  have  men  of  character, 
zeal,  intelligence  and  discretion  to  carry  out  their  'orders 
and  wishes  faithfully  and  well,  all  their  plans  will  come  to 
naught. 

Guards,  keepers  and  watchmen  should  be  of  good  moral 
character.  It  is  useless  to  talk  about  reforming  convicts 
unless  they  have  continually  the  benefit  of  good  examples 


608  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

set  before  them.  Precept  amounts  to  nothing  unless  re- 
enforced  by  good  examples. 

They  should  be  educated  and  intelligent. 

Their  duties  are  largely  discretionary,  and  in  their  con- 
tact with  convicts  a  high  order  of  intelligence  is  necessary 
to  know  the  right  thing  to  do.  Strict  integrity  and  truth- 
fulness are  prime  requisites.  An  officer's  word  should  be 
beyond  question  and  he  should  be  absolutely  impartial  in 
his  dealings  with  his  men. 

No  special  system  will  bring  the  highest  results  with  any 
kind  of  men  behind  it.  Any  system  with  men  of  character, 
conscience  and  capacity  will  achieve  great  good.  Any  sys- 
tem with  men  of  bad  character,  ignorant,  careless  and  in- 
different, will  fall  to  the  ground. 

A  common  impression  prevails  that  any  one  is  good 
enough  for  a  prison  guard,  and  if  he  is  too  old,  too  feeble 
and  decrepit  or  too  lazy  for  other  work,  his  political  strikers 
will  try  to  unload  him  on  the  penitentiary  authorities. 

Prison  Directors,  Wardens  and  all  in  authority  should  set 
their  faces  resolutely  against  this  erroneous  and  terribly 
harmful  idea.  Partisan  politics  should  not  be  a  factor  in 
the  appointment  or  the  retention  of  any  prison  officer.  All 
subordinates  should  be  appointed  under  civil  service  rules 
and  be  required  to  pass  a  civil  service  examination,  and 
after  entering  upon  his  duties  be  required  to  take  up  a 
course  of  study  on  penological  questions  and  problems  and 
be  otherwise  carefully  schooled  and  drilled  along  the  lines 
of  their  work.  If  time  demonstrates  their  unfitness  for  the 
position  they  should  be  summarily  removed.  If  they  mani- 
fest an  aptitude  and  an  interest  in  their  work  they  should 
be  encouraged,  promoted  and  protected  against  removal 
for  partisan  reasons. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  609 

Whenever  directors  in  banks  are  elected  with  reference 
to  their  political  proclivities  and  not  with  reference  to 
their  business  sagacity,  it  will  be  proper  to  select  prison 
officials  for  the  same  reason. 

Whenever  great  business  firms  discharge  their  managers 
because  their  political  views  do  not  coincide  with  those  of 
the  owners,  then  and  not  till  then  should  prison  officials 
step  down  and  out  for  political  reasons. 

What  would  be  thought  of  directors  of  a  business  enter- 
prise or  the  regents  of  a  university  who  selected  their  busi- 
ness manager,  their  teachers,  with  regard  to  their  views 
on  finance  or  on  the  tariff,  or  who  would  remove  a  faithful, 
efficient  and  capable  servant  after  years  of  experience  in 
his  work,  merely  because  he  did  not  coincide  with  the  po- 
litical views  of  the  majority  of  his  directors  in  a  matter  in 
no  way  germane  to  his  work? 

As  Boards  of  Directors  spend  but  a  small  percentage  of 
their  time  at  the  institutions  they  control,  it  necessarily  takes 
them  years  to  get  a  clear  insight  into  all  the  details  of  its 
work,  and  to  make  a  change  just  when,  through  the  process 
of  time,  the  director  becomes  fitted  for  his  work,  is  the 
height  of  unwisdom  and  folly.  Boards  of  Charity  and  Cor- 
rection having  charge  of  all  the  institutions  in  the  State 
would  certainly  be  much  more  desirable.  Such  officers 
could  devote  their  entire  time  and  attention  to  the  work, 
and  thus  be  able  to  give  all  the  institutions  of  the  State  uni- 
form treatment  and  attention.  Boards  of  Directors  or  of 
Control  should  be  appointed  and  reappointed  as  long  as  they 
are  efficient  and  manifest  an  interest  in  the  work. 

And  so  with  all  other  officers  from  the  warden  down, 
and  each  should  feel  and  know  that  faithfulness  and  ef- 
ficiency is  the  only  standard,  and  that  they  would  not  be  ex- 


6lO  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

pected,  required  or  permitted  to  weaken  their  influence  or 
their  energies  by  undue  or  active  participations  in  political 
effort  or  political  manipulations. 

The  surest  sign  of  unfitness  for  prison  work  and  lack 
of  interest  in  the  work  is  an  undue  activity  in  political  cau- 
cuses and  conventions.  The  official  practically  advertises 
that  he  cannot  hope  to  hold  his  place  on  account  of  his  ef- 
ficiency, but  expects  to  do  so  because  of  his  services  as  a 

political  henchman. 

• 

THE  DEMANDS  OF  THE  AGE. 

As  this  age  demands  a  high  order  of  talent  and  effort  in 
the  industrial,  so  It  should  demand  and  require  great  ability 
and  power  in  the  penal  world. 

The  third  of  a  century  of  the  life  of  the  National  Prison 
Congress  has  witnessed  great,  progress  in  the  domain  over 
which  it  has  advisory  power.  Many  problems  pressing 
for  solution  demand  the  highest  functions  of  those  in  con- 
trol. 

Do  punishments  deter  men  from  crime? 

Do  the  universal  customs  of  the  times  foster  and  beget 
much  of  the  crime  committed? 

Does  war  beget  murder  elsewhere? 

Is  social  vengeance  a  failure,  and  are  other  means  neces- 
sary to  prevent  crime? 

Should  not  executives  now  clothed  with  power  to  ter- 
minate or  shorten  sentences  of  imprisonment  also  have 
power  to  lengthen  terms  of  imprisonment  or  to  change 
from  a  definite  to  an  indefinite  term  whenever  they  become 
in  possession  of  facts  regarding  the  convict's  previous  life 
or  present  character,  which  were  unknown  to  the  sentencing 
judge? 

Should  not  United  States  prisoners  incarcerated  in  the 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  6ll 

various  state  prisons  have  the  restrictions  of  the  indeter- 
minate sentence  and  the  parole,  thus  securing  a  uniform 
system  of  treatment  for  all  prisoners  and  greatly  promoting 
the  discipline? 

Should  we  go  back  of  the  commission  of  crimes  and  as- 
certain if  the  State  itself  is  not  committing  a  crime  in  im- 
posing and  permitting  conditions  that  beget  crime? 

Should  not  the  pardoning  power  be  exercised  frequently 
before  the  convicted  man  ever  reaches  the  prison  at  all? 
Could  not  many  a  man  be  saved  by  being  put  on  probation 
from  the  start,  who  otherwise  would  be  in  great  danger 
of  being  lost? 

Does  the  discipline  of  prisons  have  anything  to  do  with 
the  commission  of  offenses  by  convicts  when  released? 
Does  the  enforced  restraint  exerted  to  the  very  last  mo- 
ment of  his  release  and  then  wholly  relaxed,  cause  the  re- 
leased convict  to  swing  to  the  other  extreme  like  Jean 
Valjean,  who  after  nineteen  years  of  imprisonment  for  steal- 
ing a  loaf  of  bread  and  an  attempt  to  escape,  robbed  his 
benefactor,  the  Bishop,  of  his  plate,  and  upon  being  for- 
given robbed  little  Gervais  of  his  forty  sou  piece,  but  after- 
ward got  his  bearings,  attained  his  balance  and  lived  an  hon- 
orable life? 

Should  any  prisoner  ever  be  released  at  the  prison  door, 
or  should  he  not  for  his  own  sake  as  well  as  society's  be  re- 
quired to  live  a  period  on  probation  and  under  oversight, 
subject  to  return  for  violations;  in  other  words,  should  not 
paroles  be,  under  proper  restrictions,  the  universal  and  only 
rule? 

To  the  solution  of  these  and  countless  other  problems  let 
the  highest  order  of  talent,  the  best  combination  of  head, 
heart  and  brain  be  summoned;  let  every  prison  be  a  school 


6l2  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

for  study  and  investigation,  and  be  engineered  and  controlled 
by  men  of  skill,  drilled  and  educated  along  these  lines,  and 
who  are  animated  by  a  desire  to  contribute  their  full  share 
towards  the  upbuilding  and  uplifting  of  the  race  and  the 
amelioration  of  the  woes  that  beset  mankind. 

MEDITATIONS  OF  A  PRISONER. 

PREFACE. 

To  any  one  who  may  read  these  lines  I  will  say:  Do  not 
criticise ;  I  know  you  will  find  many  mistakes,  but  I  hope 
you  will  remember  they  are  written  by  one  who  has  not  had 
the  advantage  of  an  education.  My  school  days  ended  when 
I  was  nine  years  old.  Knowing  this,  I  hope  you  will  ex- 
cuse mistakes.  Respectfully  yours,  E.  S.  K. 


I  often  wonder  if  the  busy  world  ever  gives  a  thought  to 
the  men  incarcerated  in  places  made  for  the  punishment  of 
crime  and  reformation  of  criminals,  but  often  failing  of 
reaching  the  desired  result.  Why  is  this  failure?  It  must 
be  from  defect  in  the  law  or  prison  discipline.  Some  think 
perhaps  the  rigid  enforcement  of  the  law  in  its  severest 
way  is  right,  and  that  the  prisoner  should  be  shown  no 
mercy.  But  this  is  wrong  in  every  detail  and  should  be  just 
the  reverse,  so  far  as  consistent  with  good  order  and  disci- 
pline. 

A  judge  in  sentencing  a  prisoner  should  give  a  sentence 
consistent  with  justice  and  mercy,  regardless  of  public  sen- 
timent, considering  his  own  judgment,  and  not  the  possible 
consequences  of  his  act  on  his  future.  Until  this  is  more 
generally  practiced,  I  am  afraid  there  will  be  many  too  se- 
vere sentences  passed  on  minor  criminals  and  first  offenders, 
as  now,  which  will  work  to  the  injury  of  the  convicted  in- 
stead of  his  reformation.  In  my  humble  opinion,  one  year 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  613 

would  give  the  lesson  desired  to  many  a  novice  in  crime 
who  is  now  serving  from  three  to  ten  years.  It  should  be 
remembered  that  short  sentences  give  a  novice  in  crime  a 
wholesome  dread  of  the  law  and  fear  of  prison  life,  while 
custom  and  association  with  criminals  tend  to  harden.  The 
cases  of  old  offenders,  require  more  severity  as  regards 
time  of  confinement.  Nor  can  we  say  to  the  jurors — or, 
rather,  gentlemen  of  the  jury — be  very  careful  of  what  you 
do.  Don't  treat  the  trust  you  have  in  charge  too  lightly ; 
give  it  all  the  consideration  you  are  masters  of.  Remem- 
ber you  have  the  liberty,  and,  perhaps  the  life,  of  your  fel- 
lowman  at  stake.  Be  very  careful  of  what  you  do.  Allow 
no  personal  motive  to  interfere  with  your  duty,  for,  if  we  be- 
lieve in  the  Bible,  those  who  do  so  will  answer  in  the  here- 
after for  actions  in  this  life.  Beware,  then,  of  how  you 
mete  out  justice  to  your  fellowman.  Do  unto  others  as  you 
would  have  others  do  unto  you.  Weigh  well  the  evidence 
given  against  the  prisoner.  If  you  find  that  there  is  a  mo- 
tive on  the  part  of  the  witnesses  to  convict  the  prisoner  be- 
ing tried,  you  may  rest  assured  they  will  trifle  with  the  truth. 
In  such  cases  a  juror  should  try  and  put  himself  in  the  de- 
fendant's place  and  try  to  assume  his  feelings  and  condition, 
as  much  as  possible,  and  see  how  he  would  act  in  a  like 
case.  If  all  jurors  would  do  this,  I  think  they  would  give 
a  just  and  true  verdict  in  nearly  all  cases.  But  I  fear  as 
things  are  now  they  let  the  press  have  too  much  weight 
with  the  rendering  of  a  just  verdict,  and  it  may  be  of  what 
their  friends  will  say  to  them  if  they  have  a  different  opin- 
ion. Yet  the  man  who  does  such  a  thing  is  a  coward,  a  devil 
incarnate,  and  unfit  to  be  at  large.  Such  action  may  be  the 
cause  of  making  a  criminal  out  of  a  so  far  really  honest 
man.  May  God  forgive  them  who  recklessly  tamper  with 


PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

tin-  liberty  of  their  fellowman.  Some  may  think  I  am  not 
for  punishment  of  crime.  If  so,  they  are  wrong.  I  believe 
in  punishment  of  crime.  But  I  believe  in  tempering  justice 
with  mercy.  There  should  he  no  lingering  doubt  in  a  per 
son's  mind  when  he  skives  his  verdict  against  the  prisoner. 
It  is  a  very  easy  thing  to  place  a  man  in  prison,  but  oh !  s<  > 
hard  to  get  him  out.  A  lie  sworn  to  and  believed  is  one  of 
the  hardest  things  in  the  world  to  get  righted.  And  T  know 
from  personal  experience  what  it  is.  Though  it  seems  bard 
to  say  a  lie  is  more  readily  believed  against  a  person  charged 
with  a  crime  than  the  truth,  yet  it  seems  easier  to  a  great 
many  to  believe  bad  rather  than  good  of  their  neighbor. 
Yet,  thank  God,  it  is  not  so  with  all.  We  have  many  noble 
and  true  Christians  yet  in  this  vale  of  tears — gentlemen  and 
ladies  who  practice  what  they  say  by  many  kindly  acts  to 
the  poor,  unhappy  men  who  are  unfortunate  enough  to  get 
behind  prison  bars.  GoJ  bless  them  for  such  acts.  It  does 
not  hurt  them,  and  gives  to  the  unhappy  prisoner  a  little  hap- 
piness— a  ray  of  sunshine  through  the  clouds  that  surround 
him.  Continue  your  noble  work.  You  will  be  the  gainer 
in  the  end,  from  the  knowledge  that  you  have  done  in  tin- 
Lord's  work,  if  in  no  other  way.  Oh,  could  you  see  the 
happiness  beam  from  the  eyes  of  some  of  those  here,  after 
the  call  of  some  who  take  friendly  interest  in  them,  you 
would  know  the  good  they  are  doing.  Others  seem  to  say : 
Oh,  well,  I  am  forgotten  by  all.  Poor  heart;  what  a  sad  lot. 
It  would  seem  the  sooner  that  death  ended  their  misery  the 
better.  But  while  there  is  life  there  is  hope.  I  must  say 
that  many  ladies  of  C-  -  are  very  kind  in  giving  up  their 
own  pleasures  on  Sundays  that  prisoners  in  this  prison  may 
have  some  little  change  in  their  life.  The  visiting  chaplains 
always  bring  a  choir  with  them,  and  to  them  we  give  our 


OK    A    I  AKOK   MI     |  OVI 

heartfelt  thanks,  with  a  (iod  bless  \<,n.     I  l<»vc  to  read  of 

tlu-  progress  made  111  these  penal  institutions  when-  reform 
is  practiced.  1  am  sure  tlu-  prisoners  must  take  an  inteicM 
in  it  all,  for  it  is  all  for  their  own  good.  The  Stillwater 

prison  and   Klmira  prison   must    be   models  .>|    n«.iin,  ,, 

good  order,  with  a  perfect  system  of  discipline.  It 
be  well  for  all  prisons  to  copy  them.  If  prisons  are  sup 
posed  to  he  erected  for  the  purpose  of  reformation,  \\h\ 
not  make  them  in  reality  what  they  are  intended  to  be  ?  Of 

course,  there  aie  many  different  kinds  of  crime  committed 
by  men  of  different  temperaments,  all  of  which  are  thor- 
oughly understood,  or  as  nearly  as  possible.  For  example, 

lakr   the  greatest    nimr   « >mmil  led    in   the  eyes   of   the   law 

— murder — which  is  often  called  murder  when  (here  is  no 
ground  for  it.  The  public  outcry  when  one  man  is  unfor- 
tunate enough  to  tahe  the  life  of  another  at  a  time  when  he 

may  have  even  ieas<>n  to  believe  his  own  life  is  in  tin-  great- 
est danger.  The  cry  is  raised  by  some  one,  possibly  an  eye- 
witness— Murder !  It  is  taken  up  by  the  press  and  conveyed 
to  every  one,  and  possibly  a  slight  coloring  given  to  it.  The 
people  believe  it  all.  The  consequence  is  the  public  mind  is 
piejudiced  against  the  prisoner,  and  it  takes  a  great  amount 

of  proof  by  the  defendant    to  change  that  belief,  and  slmnM 

he  not  be  able  to  produce  this  evidence,  in  spite  of  all  he 
can  say  he  is  convicted  of  the  crime  of  murder,  when  in 
reality  he  is  guilty  of  manslaughter,  if  anything.  For,  no 
matter  how  truthful  a  man  he  may  be  known  to  be,  his 
word,  unsustained  by  evidence,  is  not  accepted;  while,  on 
the  other  side,  no  matter  how  untruthful  a  witness  be  known 
to  be,  he  is  ^iv«  n  en-dil  for  the  truth.  What  kind  of  a  state 
of  affairs  is  this?  No  wonder  we  often  hear  the  cry  j;o  up 
from  some  poor  wounded  ««i  (i  n  IK  , I  li,  .11 1  .1  in  (i 


6l6  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

is  there  no  mercy  left  in  man?  Is  humanity  wholly  dead? 
Must  death  overtake  me  here  ?  Shunned  I  am  by  all  whom 
I  once  called  friends — wife,  children,  it  may  be  a  brother — 
but  never  by  a  mother,  God  bless  her. 

Let  us  take  a  look  at  this  class  of  sufferers.  What  will 
we  find  them?  Idle?  No.  They  are  as  a  rule  men  attend- 
ing to  their  work  and  submitting  to  all  the  courtesies  of 
life,  only  asking  the  same  in  return.  Surely,  such  cannot 
be  very  bad  men,  who,  hearing  the  cry  of  distress,  respond 
at  once  to  the  appeal.  I  know  some  such  to  have  a  heart  as 
tender  as  a  woman.  Yet  you  will  shut  them  up,  it  may  be 
forever.  Don't  understand  me  to  say  that  murder  is  not 
committed.  Of  course  it  is,  and  the  law  should  deal  with 
it  accordingly.  All  true  men  regret  the  taking  of  human 
life,  even  on  the  field  of  battle.  How  much  more  so  under 
other  circumstances  ?  And  the  causes  are  many  which  make 
men  do  this ;  some  of  them  hard  to  understand,  may  be.  In 
many  cases  of  this  kind  they  deserve  punishment  and  should 
be  punished.  But,  for  God's  sake,  let  the  punishment  be 
consistent  with  justice  and  mercy.  If  ten  years  is  not  suf- 
ficient punishment  to  make  man  control  himself  in  future, 
why  not  be  merciful  and  kill  him  at  once  ?  For  as  we  hope 
for  mercy,  so  must  we  show  it  to  others.  All  other  crimes 
should  be  dealt  with  accordingly.  Give  a  man  a  chance  to 
reclaim  himself.  Should  he  return  to  a  life  of  crime  in  pref- 
erence to  an  honest  one,  the  law  has  its  remedy  and  can  act 
accordingly.  This  is  well  worth  a  trial,  and  by  all  means 
should  be  given  one.  But  I  hear  some  one  who  never  gave 
these  things  a  thought  say :  How  is  this  to  be  done  ?  I  will 
answer,  Very  easily,  if  it  receive  the  support  of  our  legis- 
lative body,  by  the  recommendation  of  the  state  governor. 
Provide  your  prisons  with  workshops  of  different  kinds — 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  617 

provide  them  with  schools,  and  teach  the  prisoners  how  to 
make  a  living  by  some  useful  trade.  Give  them  a  chance 
to  improve  themselves  by  an  education.  Make  the  prison 
a  place  of  reformation,  one  of  improvement  as  well  as  pun- 
ishment, and  instead  of  increasing  crime  you  will  reduce  it, 
which  should  be  the  aim  of  all  having  the  good  of  their  fel- 
lowman  at  heart,  and  society  will  be  the  gainer.  I  would 
give  a  prisoner  who  would  show  by  his  conduct  a  spirit  of 
reform  a  parole  after  half  of  his  time,  with'  conditions  at- 
tached, as  is  done  in  the  Minnesota  state  prison,  so  that, 
should  he  fall  back  into  his  old  way  of  living,  he  would  be 
returned  to  prison  to  serve  out  the  remainder  of  his  sen- 
tence. By  this  means  you  to  all  intents  and  purposes  hold 
a  power  over  him,  and  he  will  be  very  careful  as  to  what  he 
is  about.  This  habit  in  time  will  grow  upon  him  and  be  the 
cause  of  making  him  a  good  citizen  and  trustworthy  mem- 
ber of  society.  To  men  serving  life  sentences  I  would,  on 
the  recommendation  of  the  prison  warden,  give  a  parole 
after  manslaughter  sentence  has  been  served.  This  is  a 
class  of  men  that  deserve  some  looking  after  by  the  kindly 
interest  of  humane  persons.  Give  them  hope  and  encourage- 
ment. Do  not  leave  them  to  their  own  morbid  thoughts; 
you  cannot  tell  what  drove  them  to  an  act  they  will  regret, 
whether  in  or  out  of  prison.  If  hasty  once,  it  is  no  reason 
to  suppose  they  will  be  so  again.  Why  not,  then,  look  after 
them?  Let  some  of  you  Christian  people  talk  with  them, 
and  if  you  find  they  ought  to  be  assisted,  help  them.  You 
know  not  what  good  you  may  do,  and  without  such  aid  a 
poor  and  friendless  man  in  prison  is  without  hope.  Will 
you,  as  Christians,  let  him  die  believing  the  word  Chris- 
tianity a  mockery?  God  forbid.  I  know  there  are  many 
good  Christians  that  feel  and  mean  what  they  say.  But  I 


6l8  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

am  afraid  that  many  of  the  less  courageous  are  deterred 
from  doing  all  they  would  like  to  do  by  the  sneers  of  the 
hard,  cruel  world.  But  this  should  only  spur  you  on.  If 
you  feel  you  are  right,  push  on ;  do  not  stop  half  way. 

In  connection  with  the  parole  law  we  should  have  our 
prisoners  graded  as  first,  second  and  third  class,  giving  to 
the  second  grade  or  class  advantages  above  the  third,  and  to 
the  first  above  the  second,  giving  them  a  motive  to  reform 
their  ways  while  yet  in  prison,  and  their  partial  liberty  from 
the  first  class  by  parole.  By  this  means  you  instill  into  the 
prisoner  a  habit  for  good  which  in  time  will  take  root  and 
prove  a  blessing,  not  only  to  the  prisoner,  but  also  a  source 
of  pleasure  to  those  bringing  it  about,  It  must  be  expected 
that  some  will  fall  again;  but  why  should  the  many  suffer 
for  the  few  ?  I  have  heard  and  read  such  sayings  as  this : 
The  worst  men  are  the  best  behaved  while  in  prison  if  there 
is  anything  to  be  gained  by  it.  I  dispute  this.  No  man  can 
control  or  hide  his  real  nature  for  any  great  length  of  time. 
Nature  is  bound  to  come  to  the  surface  sooner  or  later.  The 
officers  and  guards  of  a  prison  should  be  men  strict  in  the 
enforcement  of  the  prison  rules,  humane  and  just  in  all  their 
actions,  men  who  by  their  own  actions  and  deportment  will 
gain  and  hold  the  respect  of  those  under  their  charge.  They 
should  reward  the  good  as  well  as  punish  the  evil  in  men. 
It  would,  in  my  humble  opinion,  be  nothing  but  true  justice 
to  the  prisoner  to  put  the  whole  power  of  pardoning,  com- 
muting and  paroling  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  governor. 
I  do  not  say  a  judge  will  not  give  justice  where  clemency 
is  asked.  But  it  may  be  the  case  that  a  judge  on  the  board 
of  pardons  has  sentenced  the  prisoner,  and  probably  in  some 
way  became  prejudiced  against  the  applicant,  and  it  might 
be  the  cause  of  influencing  his  vote ;  consequently,  it  would 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE 

look  like  a  piece  of  injustice  to  the  prisoner  to  allow  that 
judge  to  sit  on  his  case.  I  think  ft  would  be  well  for  a  gov- 
ernor to  make  himseli  perfectly  acquainted  with  all  pertain- 
ing to  the  mode  of  life  of  the  prisoners,  as  much  as  possible. 
It  ought  to  be  remembered  that  when,  the  prison  doors  close 
on  a  man  your  duty  is  only  half  done  to  yourself,  the  pris- 
oner and  society  at  large.  He  needs  looking  after  mentally, 
morally  and  physically.  Do  not  leave  him  to  his  own  morbid 
thoughts,  but  help  him  to  forget  his  surroundings  as  much 
as  possible.  Give  him  hope,  for  without  hope  we  are  lost 
to  ourselves  and  the  world.  It  is  possible  some  will  say  they 
ought  to  be ;  but  it  must  be  a  very  heartless  person  who 
makes  this  remark.  Remember,  while  you  are  walking  about 
to-day,  feeling  self-conscious  of  your  own  strength  to  re- 
sist any  and  everything  in  the  line  of  temptation,  the  time 
may  come  when  you  will  lose  control  of  yourself ;  or,  it  may 
be,  some  one  dear  to  you  will  fall.  In  such  cases,  how  many 
excuses  you  can  find  for  yourself  or  him.  Can  you  find 
none  for  those  now  suffering  for  the  same  ?  I  feel  impelled 
by  some  power  to  speak  of  those  very  people  in  a  few  lines. 
Perhaps  it  may  catch  their  eye.  Why  will  you  follow  one 
to  prison  with  hate,  malice  and  persecution,  one  who  would 
not  harm  a  single  hair  of  your  head,  one  who  never  had  or 
has  a  single  bitter  thought  against  you,  one  that  nightly 
asks  God's  protection  to  you  and  yours  ?  And  yet  you  per- 
secute him,  or  it  may  be  them,  with  all  the  might  you  can. 
Is  it  not  enough  that  he  has  lost  home,  friends,  wife,  chil- 
dren and  happiness  at  one  false  move?  Is  it  not  enough 
that  he  is  condemned  to  a  living  death,  hearing  every  hour 
of  the  day  the  clang  of  the  iron  bars  that  shut  him  out  from 
the  world,  that  separate  him  from  all  he  loves?  I  say  to 
you,  is  this  not  enough  to  satisfy  the  most  bitter  feelings  of 


62O  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

any  avowed  enemy  ?  It  ought  to  be.  Yes,  this  ought  to  sat- 
isfy you  without  trying  to  obliterate  the  memory  of  the 
father  from  the  child's  heart  and  without  denying  him  the 
privilege  of  communicating  with  them;  without  denying 
him  the  pleasure  of  doing  something  for  them  and  of  one 
day  seeing  them,  which  is  all  he  has  left  to  live  for.  To  all 
to  whom  these  lines  refer,  who  read  them,  I  will  say,  change 
all  this.  Ask  God's  help  to  give  you  strength  to  do  right. 
In  time  you  will  feel  a  restful  peace  come  to  you,  and  it  will 
make  you  content,  if  not  happy.  Try  this,  and  may  God  in 
his  mercy  show  you  the  way.  And  to  all  prisoners  who  may 
be  suffering  from  the  persecution  of  injustice  by  others,  I 
will  say  the  same.  Say  with  all  your  heart:  God  forgive 
them,  they  know  not  what  they  do.  And  you  will  always 
find  a  comfort  in  helping  one  another.  For  as  we  hope  to  be 
forgiven,  so  must  we  forgive.  What  use  in  saying  the 
Lord's  prayer — Forgive  us  our  trespasses  as  we  forgive 
those  who  trespass  against  us?  We  must  consider  well 
the  meaning  of  those  lines,  and  if  we  cannot  or  do  not  com- 
ply with  all  they  mean  it  is  better  for  us  not  to  use  them.  I 
thank  God  from  my  heart,  I  can  say  I  forgive  all  my  ene- 
mies. I  have  nothing  but  a  kindly  feeling  for  all  mankind. 
I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  I  am  not  ruffled  at  times,  for  I 
am ;  I  would  not  be  human  if  I  were  not. 

There  is  one  class  of  men  who  come  to  prison  that  should 
command  the  attention  of  our  lawmakers — namely,  married 
men.  .  Not  on  their  own  account,  for  they  should  pay  the 
penalty  of  the  law  as  well  as  another,  but  on  account  of  their 
families.  It  must  be  remembered  that  when  you  take  away 
the  father  and  supporter  of  a  family  you  leave  them  with- 
out the  means  of  support ;  and  if  the  mother  happens  to  be 
a  sick  and  weakly  person,  what  is  to  become  of  them? 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  621 

To  be  sure,  we  have  the  orphans'  home  and  the  alms- 
house,  but  this  is  only  taxing  more  heavily  the  already  over- 
burdened taxpayers,  of  the  country.  Then  it  would  be  a 
commendable  act  of  the  legislative  bodies  to  enact,  laws  to 
provide  for  the  improvement  of  such  married  men  and  give 
the  earnings  of  their  labor  to  their  families.  This,  to  me, 
looks  reasonable  and  just,  and  easy  of  accomplishment,  and 
should  be  acted  upon  by  all  means.  Let  me  draw  you  a  pic- 
ture from  my  imagination :  We  will  visit  a  family  who  are  in 
easy  circumstances  these  cold  nights.  What  do  we  see? 
Well-clad  and  well-fed  children,  a  happy,  contented  look 
rests  upon  the  wife's  and  husband's  faces.  Why  should  it 
not  be  so  ?  They  have  plenty  to  eat  and  wear ;  a  full  bin  of 
coal.  Again,  visit  one  where  the  husband  may  be  languish- 
ing behind  the  prison  bars,  but  of  the  same  class.  It  is  not 
so  cheerful,  but  still  no  want  is  felt,  and  the  father  and  hus- 
band, although  chafing  at  confinement,  feels  that  his  family 
is  not  in  want.  This,  of  course,  will  be  a  consolation  to  him. 
Now  let  us  visit  another  house,  where  they  have  always  lived 
from  hand  to  mouth.  The  father  is  gone.  The  mother  and 
children,  poor  souls,  ill-clad,  ill-fed,  and,  my  God,  it  may  be, 
no  fire.  What  a  picture  to  contemplate.  It  makes  me  shud- 
der to  think  of  it.  Now  come  with  me  behind  the  prison 
bars  and  see  the  head  of  this  family.  Knowing  the  want  and 
needs  of  his  family,  and  knowing  how  impossible  it  is  for 
him  to  alleviate  their  suffering,  it  is  enough  to  drive  a  man 
insane.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  if  this  man  could  earn 
something  for  his  family's  support,  it  would  relieve  his  mind 
of  a  heavy  burden.  Think  well  of  this,  and  in  the  name  of 
God  change  the  law  that  certainly  works  contrary  to  what  it 
was  intended  for.  As  it  now  stands,  you  simply  provide 
punishment  for  the  criminals.  In  so  doing  you  cause  untold 


622  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

suffering  and  shame  to  innocent  ones.  In  God's  name,  let 
it  cease  to  be  so.  Now,  then,  for  fear  I  may  tire  the  reader, 
I  will  close.  Very  respectfully,  E. 

CHRIST  IN  GETHSEMANE. 

State  Prison. 

January  18,  1886. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  R.  Wheaton, 

Prison   Evangelist. 
My  Dearest  Sister: — 

•'What  might  a  single  mind  may  wield, 
With  Truth  for  sword  and  Faith  for  shield, 

And  Hope  to  lead  the  way: 
Thus  all  high  triumphs  are  obtained, 
From  evil  good — as  God  ordained 

The  night  before  the  day !  ' ' 

"And  being  in  an  agony,  He  prayed." — St.  Luke  22:44. 
When  the  last  supper  was  over,  and  the  last  hymn  had 
been  sung,  our  Lord  and  His  Apostles — with  the  one  traitor 
fatally  absent  from  their  number — went  out  of  the  city  gate, 
and  down  the  steep  valley  of  the  Kidron  to  the  green  slope 
of  Olivet  beyond  it.  Solemn  and  sad  was  that  last  walk  to- 
gether ;  and  a  weight  of  mysterious  awe  sank  like  lead  upon 
the  hearts  of  those  few  poor  Galileans  as  in  almost  unbroken 
silence, — through  the  deep  hush  of  the  Oriental  night, — 
through  the  dark  shadows  of  the  ancient  olive-trees, — 
through  the  broken  gleams  of  the  Paschal  moonlight, — they 
followed  Him,  their  Lord  and  Master,  who,  with  bowed 
head  and  sorrowing  heart,  walked  before  them  to  His  willing 
doom. 

That  night  they  did  not  return  as  usual  to  Bethany,  but 
stopped  at  the  little  familiar  garden  of  Gethsemane,  or  "the 
oilpress."  Jesus  knew  that  the  hour  of  His  uttermost  hu- 
miliation was  near, — that  from  this  moment  till  the  utterance 
of  that  great  cry  which  broke  His  heart,  nothing  remained 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  623 

for  Him  on  earth,  save  all  that  the  human  frame  can  tol- 
erate of  torturing  pain,  and  all  that  the  human  soul  can  bear 
of  poignant  anguish — till  in  that  torment  of  body  and 
desolation  of  soul,  even  the  high  and  radiant  serenity  of 
His  divine  spirit  should  suffer  a  short  but  terrible  eclipse. 
One  thing  alone  remained  before  that  short  hour  began ; 
a  short  space  was  left  Him,  and  in  that  space  He  had  to 
brace  His  body,  to  nerve  His  soul,  to  calm  His  spirit  by 
prayer  and  solitude,  until  all  that  is  evil  in  the  power  of  evil 
should  wreak  its  worst  upon  His  innocent  and  holy  head. 
And  He  had  to  face  that  hour, — to  win  that  victory, — as  all 
the  darkest  hours  must  be  faced,  as  all  the  hardest  victories 
must  be  won — alone.  It  was  not  that  He  was  above  the 
need  of  sympathy, — no  noble  soul  is; — and  perhaps  the 
noblest  need  it  most.  Though  His  friends  did  but  sleep, 
while  the  traitor  toiled,  yet  it  helped  Him  in  His  hour  of 
darkness  to  feel  at  least  that  they  were  near  and  that  those 
were  nearest  who  loved  Him  most.  "Stay  here,"  He  said 
to  the  little  group,  "while  I  go  yonder  and  pray."  Leaving 
them  to  sleep,  each  wrapped  in  his  outer  garment  on  the 
grass,  He  took  Peter  and  James  and  John,  the  chosen  of  the 
chosen,  and  went  about  a  stone's-throw  off.  But  soon  even 
their  presence  was  more  than  He  could  endure.  A  grief 
beyond  utterance,  a  struggle  beyond  endurance,  a  horror 
of  great  darkness,  overmastered  Him,  as  with  the  sinking 
swoon  of  an  anticipated  death.  He  must  be  yet  more  alone, 
and  alone  with  God.  Reluctantly  He  tore  Himself  away 
from  their  sustaining  tenderness,  and  amid  the  dark-brown 
trunks  of  those  gnarled  trees  withdrew  from  the  moonlight 
into  the  deeper  shade,  where  solitude  might  be  for  Him  the 
audience-chamber  of  His  Heavenly  Father.  And  there, 
till  slumber  overpowered  them,  His  three  beloved  Apostles 


624  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

were  conscious  how  dreadful  was  the  paroxysm  through 
which  He  passed.  They  saw  Him  sometimes  with  head 
bowed  upon  His  knees,  sometimes  lying  on  His  face  in  pros- 
trate suffering  upon  the  ground.  And  though  amazement 
and  sore  distress  fell  on  them, — though  the  whole  place 
seemed  to  be  haunted  by  Presences  of  good  and  evil  strug- 
gling in  mighty  but  silent  contest  for  the  eternal  victory, — 
yet,  before  they  sank  under  the  oppression  of  troubled  slum- 
ber, they  knew  that  they  had  been  the  dim  witnesses  of  an 
unutterable  agony,  in  which  the  drops  of  anguish  which 
dropped  from  His  brow  in  that  deathful  struggle  looked  to 
them  like  gouts  of  blood,  and  yet  the  burden  of  those  broken 
murmurs  in  which  He  pleaded  with  His  Heavenly  Father 
had  been  ever  this,  "If  it  be  possible, — yet  not  what  I  will, 
but  what  Thou  wilt." 

What  is  the  meaning,  my  beloved  sister,  of  this  scene  for 
us?  What  was  the  cause  of  this  midnight  hour?  Do  you 
think  that  it  was  the  fear  of  death,  and  that  that  was  suf- 
ficient to  shake  to  its  utmost  center  the  pure  and  innocent 
soul  of  the  Son  of  Man?  Could  not  even  a  child  see  how 
inconsistent  such  a  fear  would  be  with  all  that  followed ; — 
with  that  heroic  fortitude  which  fifteen  consecutive  hours 
of  sleepless  agony  could  not  disturb; — with  that  majestic 
silence  which  overawed  even  the  hard  Roman  into  respect 
and  fear; — with  that  sovereign  ascendency  of  soul  which 
flung  open  the  golden  gate  of  Paradise  to  the  repentant 
malefactor,  and  breathed  its  compassionate  forgiveness  on 
the  apostate  priest?  Could  He  have  been  afraid  of  death, 
in  whose  name,  and  in  whose  strength,  and  for  whose  sake 
alone,  trembling  old  men,  and  feeble  maidens,  and  timid 
boys  have  faced  it  in  its  worst  form  without  a  shudder  or  a 
sigh?  My  friend,  the  dread  of  the  mere  act  of  dying  is  a 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  625 

cowardice  so  abject  that  the  meanest  passions  of  the  mind 
can  master  it,  and  many  a  coarse  criminal  has  advanced  to 
meet  his  end  with  unflinching  confidence  and  steady  step. 
And  Jesus  knew,  if  any  have  ever  known,  that  it  is  as  nat- 
ural to  die  as  to  be  born ; — that  it  is  the  great  birthright  of 
all  who  love  God ; — that  it  is  God  who  giveth  His  beloved 
sleep.     The  sting  of  death — and  its  only  sting — is  sin ;  the 
victory  of  the  grave — and  its  only  victory — is  corruption. 
And  Jesus  knew  no  sin,  saw  no  corruption.    No,  that  which 
stained  His  forehead  with  crimson  drops  was  something  far 
deadlier  than  death.     Though  sinless  He  was  suffering  for 
sin.     The  burden  and  the  mystery  of  man's  strange  and 
revolting  wickedness  lay  heavy  on  His  soul ;  and  with  holy 
lips  He  was  draining  the  bitter  cup  into  which  sin  had  in- 
fused its  deadliest  poison.    Could  perfect  innocence  endure 
without  a  shudder  all  that  is  detestable  in  human  ingratitude 
and  human  rage  ?  Should  there  be  no  recoil  of  horror  in  the 
bosom  of  perfect  love  to  see  His  own, — for  whom  he  came, 
— absorbed  in  one  insane  repulsion  against  infinite  purity 
and  tenderness  and  peace?     It  was  a  willing  agony,  but  it 
was  agony;  it  was  endured  for  our  sakes;  the  Son  of  God 
suffered  that  He  might  through  suffering  become  perfect 
in  infinite  sympathy  as  a  Savior  strong  to  save. 

And  on  all  the  full  mysterious  meaning  of  that  agony 
and  bloody  sweat  it  would  be  impossible  now  to  dwell,  but 
may  we  not  for  a  short  time  dwell  with  profit — may  not 
every  one  whose  heart — being  free  from  the  fever  of  pas- 
sion, and  unfretted  by  the  pettiness  of  pride — is  calm  and 
meek  and  reverent  enough  to  listen  to  the  messages  of  God, 
even  be  they  spoken  by  the  feeblest  of  human  lips, — may  we 
not  all,  I  say,  learn  something  from  this  fragment  of  that 
thrilling  story  that — "being  in  an  agony,  He  prayed"? 


626  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

' '  The  chosen   three,   on   mountain   height, 

While  Jesus  bowed  in  prayer, 
Beheld  His  vesture  glow  with  light, 
His  face  shine  wondrous  fair. ' ' 

To  every  one  of  us,  I  suppose,  sooner  or  later  the  Getli- 
semane  of  life  must  come.  It  may  be  the  Gethsemane  of 
struggle,  and  poverty  and  care ; — it  may  be  the  Gethsemane 
of  long  and  weary  sickness ; — it  may  be  the  Gethsemane  of 
farewells  that  wring  the  heart  by  th«  deathbeds  of  those  we 
love ; — it  may  be  the  Gethsemane  of  remorse,  and  of  well- 
nigh  despair,  for  sins  that  we  will  not — but  which  we  say 
we  cannot — overcome.  Well,  my  dearest  sister,  in  that 
Gethsemane — aye,  even  in  that  Gethsemane  of  sin — no  angel 
merely, — but  Christ  Himself  who  bore  the  burden  of  our 
sins, — will,  if  we  seek  Him,  come  to  comfort  us.  He  will, 
if  being  in  agony,  we  pray.  He  can  be  touched,  He  is 
touched,  with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities.  He,  too,  has 
trodden  the  winepress  of  agony  alone ;  He,  too,  has  lain  face 
downwards  in  the  night  upon  the  ground ;  and  the  comfort 
which  then  came  to  Him  He  has  bequeathed  to  us — even 
the  comfort,  the  help,  the  peace,  the  recovery,  the  light, 
the  hope,  the  faith,  the  sustaining  arm,  the  healing  anodyne 
of  prayer.  It  is  indeed  a  natural  comfort — and  one  to  which 
the  Christian  at  least  flies  instinctively.  When  the  water- 
floods  drown  us, — when  all  God's  waves  and  storms  seem  to 
be  beating  over  our  souls, — when  "Calamity  comes  like  a 
deluge,  and  o'erfloods  our  crimes  till  sin  is  hidden  in  sor- 
row"— oh,  then,  if  we  have  not  wholly  quenched  all  spirit- 
ual life  within  us,  what  can  we  do  but  fling  ourselves  at  the 
foot  of  those  great  altar  stairs  that  slope  through  darkness 
to  God  ?  Yes,  being  in  an  agony,  we  pray ;  and  the  talis- 
man against  every  agony  is  there. 

And  herein  lies  the  great  mercy  and  love  of  God,  that 


OR   A    LABOR   OK    LOVK  627 

we  may  go  to  Him  in  our  agony  even  if  we  have  never  gone 
before.  Oh,  if  prayer  were  possible  only  for  the  always 
good  and  always  true,  possible  only  for  those  who  have 
never  forsaken  or  forgotten  God, — if  it  were  not  possible 
for  sinners  and  penitents  and  those  who  have  gone  astray, 
— -then  of  how  infinitely  less  significance  would  it  be  for 
sinful  and  fallen  man!  But  our  God  is  a  God  of  Love,  a 
God  of  Mercy.  He  is  very  good  to  us.  The  soul  may 
come  bitter  and  disappointed,  with  nothing  left  to  offer 
Him  but  the  dregs  of  a  misspent  life ; — the  soul  may  come, 
like  that  sad  Prodigal,  weary  and  broken,  and  shivering, 
and  in  rags ;  but  if  it  only  come — the  merciful  door  is  open 
still,  and  while  yet  we  are  a  great  way  off  our  Father  will 
meet  and  forgive  and  comfort  us.  And  then  what  a  change 
is  there  in  our  lives !  They,  are  weak  no  longer ;  they  are 
discontented  no  longer ;  they  are  the  slaves  of  sin  no  longer. 
You  have  seen  the  heavens  gray  with  dull  and  leaden-col- 
ored clouds,  you  have  seen  the  earth  chilly  and  comfortless 
under  its  drifts  of  unmelting  snow:  but  let  the  sun  shine, 
and  then  how  rapidly  does  the  sky  resume  its  radiant  blue, 
and  the  fields  laugh  with  green  grass  and  vernal  flower! 
So  will  it  be  with  even  a  withered  and  a  wasted  life  when 
we  return  to  God  and  suffer  Him  to  send  His  bright  beams 
of  light  upon  our  heart.  I  do  not  mean  that  the  pain  or 
misery  under  which  we  are  suffering  will  necessarily  be  re- 
moved,— even  for  Christ  it  was  not  so ;  but  peace  will  come 
and  strength  will  come  and  resignation  will  come  and  hope 
will  come, — and  we  shall  feel  able  to  bear  anything  which 
God  shall  send,  and  though  He  slays  us  we  still  shall  seek 
Him,  and  even  if  the  blackest  cloud  of  anguish  seem  to 
shroud  His  face  from  us,  even  on  that  cloud  shall  the  rain- 
bow shine. 


628  PRISONS    AND   PRAYER 

You  do  not  think,  my  sister,  that  because  God  never  re- 
jects the  prayer  of  sinner  or  sufferer,  that  therefore  we  may 
go  on  sinning,  trusting  to  repent  when  we  suffer.  That 
would  be  a  shameful  abuse  of  God's  mercy  and  tenderness ; 
it  would  be  a  frame  of  mind  which  would  need  this  solemn 
warning,  that  agony  by  no  means  always  leads  to  prayer ; 
that  it  may  come  when  prayer  is  possible  no  longer  to  the 
long-hardened  and  long-prayerless  soul.  I  know  no  hope 
so  senseless,  so  utterly  frustrated  by  all  experience,  as  the 
hope  of  what  is  called  deathbed  repentance.  Those  who  are 
familiar  with  many  deathbeds  will  tell  you  why.  But 
prayer — God's  blessed  permission  to  us,  to  see  Him  and  to 
know  Him,  and  to  trust  in  Him — that  is  granted  us  not  for 
the  hours  of  death  or  agony  alone,  but  for  all  life,  almost 
from  the  very  cradle  quite  to  the  very  grave.  And  it  is  a 
gift  no  less  priceless  for  its  alleviation  of  sorrow  than  for 
its  intensification  of  all  innocent  joy.  For  him  who  would 
live  a  true  life  it  is  as  necessary  in  prosperity  as  in  adver- 
sity,— in  peace  as  in  trouble, — in  youth  as  in  old 
age.  Here,  too,  Christ  is  our  example.  He  lived, 
as  we  may  live,  in  the  light  of  His  Father's  face.  It 
was  not  only  as  the  Man  of  Sorrows,  it  was  not  only  in  the 
moonlit  garden  of  His  agony,  or  on  the  darkening  hills  of 
His  incessant  toil,  that  prayer  had  refreshed  His  soul;  but 
often  during  those  long  unknown  years  in  the  little  Gali- 
lean village, — daily,  and  from  childhood  upwards,  irf  sweet 
hours  of  peace,  kneeling  amid  the  mountain  lilies  or  on  the 
cottage  floor.  Those  prayers  are  to  the  soul  what  the  dew 
of  God  is  to  the  flowers  of  the  field ;  the  burning  wind  of  the 
day  may  pass  over  them,  and  the  stems  droop  and  the  colors 
fade,  but  when  the  dew  steals  down  at  evening,  they  will- 
revive.  Why  should  not  that  gracious  dew  fall  even  novpr 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  629 

and  always  for  all  of  us  upon  the  fields  of  life?  A  life 
which  has  been  from  the  first  a  life  of  prayer, — a  life  which 
has  thus  from  its  earliest  days  looked  up  consciously  to  its 
Father  and  its  God, — will  always  be  a  happy  life.  Time 
may  fleet,  and  youth  may  fade, — as  they  will,  and  there  may 
be  storm  as  well  as  sunshine  in  the  earthly  career ;  yet  it  will 
inevitably  be  a  happy  career,  and  with  a  happiness  that  can- 
not die.  Yes,  this  is  the  lesson  which  I  would  that  we  all 
might  learn  from  the  thought  of  Christ  in  the  garden  of 
Gethsemane; — the  lesson  that  Prayer  may  recall  the  sun- 
shine even  to  the  dark  and  the  frozen  heart ;  but  that  there 
is  no  long  winter,  there  is  no  unbroken  night,  to  that  soul  on 
which  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  has  risen  with  healing  in 
His  wings. 

And  that  because  true  prayer  is  always  heard.  We  read 
in  the  glorioles  old  Greek  poet  of  prayers  which,  before  they 
reached  the  portals  of  heaven  were  scattered  by  the  winds ; 
and  indeed  there  are  some  prayers  so  deeply  opposed  to  the 
will  of  God,  so  utterly  alien  to  the  true  interests  of  men, 
that  nothing  could  happen  better  for  us  than  that  God 
should  refuse,  nothing  more  terrible  than  that  He  should 
grant  them  in  anger.  So  that  if  we  pray  for  any  earthly 
blessing  we  may  pray  for  it  solely  "if  it  be  God's  will" ;  "if 
it  be  for  our  highest  good,"  but,  for  all  the  best  things  we 
may  pray  without  misgiving,  without  reservation,  certain 
that  if  we  ask  God  will  grant  them.  Nay,  even  in  asking 
for  them  we  may  know  that  we  have  them, — for  what  we 
desire  to  ask,  and  what  we  ask,  we  aim  at,  and  what  we  aim 
at  we  shall  attain.  No  man  ever  yet  asked  to  be,  as  the 
days  pass  by,  more  noble,  and  sweet,  and  pure,  and  heaven- 
ly-minded,— no  man  ever  yet  prayed  that  the  evil  spirits  of 
hatred,  and  pride,  and  passion,  and  wordliness,  might  be 


630  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

cast  out  of  his  soul, — without  his  petition  being  granted, 
and  granted  to  the  letter.  And  with  all  other  gifts  God  then 
gives  us  His  own  self  besides, — He  makes  us  know  Him, 
and  love  Him,  and  live  in  Him.  "Thou  hast  written  well  of 
me,"  said  the  Vision  to  the  great  teacher  of  Aquinum,  "what 
reward  dost  thou  desire?"  "Non  aliam,  nisi  te  Domine" — 
"no  other  than  Thyself,  O  Lord,"  was  the  meek  and  rapt 
reply.  And  when  all  our  restless,  fretful,  discontented  long- 
ings are  reduced  to  this  alone,  the  desire  to  see  God's  face ; 
— when  we  have  none  in  Heaven  but  Him,  and  none  upon 
earth  whom  we  desire  in  comparison  of  Him ; — then  we  are 
indeed  happy  beyond  the  reach  of  any  evil  thing,  for  then 
we  have  but  one  absorbing  wish,  and  that  wish  cannot  be  re- 
fused. Least  of  all  can  it  be  refused  when  it  has  pleased 
God  to  afflict  us. 

"Ye  now  have  sorrow,"  said  Christ,  "but  I  will  see  you 
again,  and  your  heart  shall  rejoice,  and  your  joy  no  man 
taketh  from  you."  Yes,  when  God's  children  pass  under 
the  shadows  of  the  Cross  of  Calvary  they  know  that  through 
that  shadow  lies  their  passage  to  the  Great  White  Throne. 
For  them  Gethsemane  is  as  Paradise.  God  fills  it  with  sa- 
cred presences ;  its  solemn  silence  is  broken  by  the  music  of 
tender  promises ;  its  awful  darkness  softened  and  brightened 
by  the  sunlight  of  heavenly  faces,  and  the  music  of  angel 
wings. 

"I   am  baptized  into   thy  name, 

O  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost! 
Among  thy  seed   a  place  I  claim, 

Among   thy  consecrated  host; 
Buried  with  Christ  and  dead  to  sin, 

Thy  Spirit  now  shall  live  within." 

"And  we  have  seen  and  do  testify  that  the  Father  sent 
the  Son  to  be  the  Savior  of  the  world." 

Your  Brother  in  Christ,  L.  J. 


OR  A  LABOR  OF  LOVE  63! 

DIRECTORY 

OF 

PENITENTIARIES,    STATE    REFORM    SCHOOLS, 

STATE    INDUSTRIAL    REFORMATORIES, 

ETC.,  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

AND  CANADA. 

UNITED   STATES    PRISONS. 

United  States  Penitentiary,  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas. 

United  States  Penitentiary,  Atlanta,  Georgia. 

United  States  Penitentiary,  McNeil  Island,  Washington. 

United  States  jails  in  the  Indian  Territory :  Vinita,  Mus- 
kogee,  South  McAlester  and  Ardmore. 

United  States  Jail,  Fort  Smith,  Arkansas. 

United  Stales  Jail,  Guthrie,  Oklahoma. 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. — District  Jail,  Reform  School, 
and  Reform  School  for  Girls,  Washington. 

There  are  several  small  United  States  jails  in  Alaska  and 
within  the  States  occupying  rented  quarters. 

STATE    INSTITUTIONS. 

ALABAMA. — Penitentiary,  Wetumpka ;  two  prisons  at 
Pratt  Mines.  Boys'  Industrial  School,  East  Lake. 

ARIZONA. — Territorial  Prison,  Yuma. 
ARKANSAS. — Penitentiary,  Little  Rock. 

CALIFORNIA. — Prisons,  Folsom  and  San  Quentin.  State 
Schools,  Whittier  and  lone. 

COLORADO. — Penitentiary,  Canon  City.  Reformatory, 
Buena  Vista.  Reform  School  for  Girls,  Denver.  Industrial 
School  for  Girls,  Morrison.  Industrial  School  for  Boys, 
Golden. 

CONNECTICUT. — Prison,  Weathersfield.  Reform  School, 
Meridan.  Industrial  School  for  Girls,  Middletown. 

DELAWARE. — Ferris  Industrial  School  and  Industrial 
School  for  Girls,  Wilmington. 


632  PRISONS    AND    PRAYER 

FLORIDA. — Stockade  Camps  (13  in  1900).  Prisoners 
farmed  out,  mining  phosphate.  Reform  School,  Marianna. 

GEORGIA. — Woman's  Prison,  Milledgville.  Stockades  at 
mines  and  farms;  prisoners  leased. 

IDAHO. — Penitentiary,  Boise  City. 

ILLINOIS. — Penitentiaries,  Joliet,  Chester.  Reformatory, 
Pontiac.  Industrial  School  for  Girls,  South  Evanston. 
Home  for  Female  Offenders,  Geneva.  Erring  Woman's 
Refuge,  Chicago. 

INDIANA. — Prisons,  Jeffersonville,  Michigan  City.  Wom- 
an's Prison,  and  Reform  School  for  Girls,  Indianapolis.  Re- 
form School  for 'Boys,  Plainfield. 

IOWA. — Penitentiaries,  Fort  Madison,  Animosa.  Indus- 
trial Schools :  Boys,  Eldora ;  Girls,  Mitchelville. 

KANSAS. — Penitentiary,  Lansing.  Reform  School,  To- 
peka.  Industrial  Reformatory,  Hutchinson.  Industrial 
School  for  Girls,  Beloit. 

KENTUCKY. — Penitentiaries,  Frankfort,  Eddyville.  Re- 
form School,  Lexington.  Industrial  School  of  Reform, 
Louisville. 

LOUISIANA. — Penitentiary,  Baton  Rouge.  Boys'  House 
of  Refuge,  New  Orleans. 

MAINE. — Prison,  Thomaston.  Reform  School,  South 
Portland.  Industrial  School  for  Girls,  Hallowell. 

MARYLAND. — Penitentiary,  Baltimore.  House  of  Refuge 
for  Boys,  Female  House  of  Refuge,  and  St.  Mary's  Indus- 
trial School,  Baltimore.  Industrial  Home  for  Colored  Girls, 
Melvale.  House  of  Reformation  for  Colored  Boys,  Chel- 
tenham. 

MASSACHUSETTS. — Prison,  Charlestown.  Reformatory, 
Concord.  Reformatory  Prison  for  Women,  Sherborn.  In- 
dustrial School  for  Girls,  Lancaster.  Lyman  School  for 
Boys,  Westboro.  State  Primary  School,  Monson. 

MICHIGAN. — Prison,  Jackson.  Branch  prison  and  House 
of  Correction,  Marquette.  House  of  Correction  and  Re- 


OR  A   LABOR  OF   LOVE  633 

formatory,  Ionia.    Industrial  School  for  Boys,  Lansing.   In- 
dustrial Home  for  Girls,  Adrian. 

MINNESOTA. — Prison,  Stillwater.  Reformatory  (for  16 
to  30  years  old),  St.  Cloud.  State  Training  School,  Red- 
wing. 

MISSISSIPPI. — Penitentiary,  Jackson.     Farms. 

MISSOURI. — Penitentiary,  Jefferson  City.  Reform  School 
for  Boys,  Boonville.  Industrial  Home  for  Girls,  Chilli- 
cothe.  House  of  Refuge,  St.  Louis. 

MONTANA. — Prisons,  Deer  Lodge,  Billings.  Reform 
School,  Miles  City. 

NEBRASKA. — Penitentiary,  Lincoln.  Industrial  School  for 
Boys,  Kearney.  Industrial  School  for  Girls,  Geneva. 

NEVADA. — Prison,  Carson  City. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. — Prison,  Concord.  Industrial  School, 
Manchester. 

NEW  JERSEY. — Prison  and  Industrial  School  for  Girls, 
Trenton.  Reform  School,  Jamesburg. 

NEW  MEXICO. — Penitentiary,  Santa  Fe. 

NEW  YORK. — Prisons,  Sing  Sing,  Auburn  (also  one  for 
women).  Reformatories,  Elmira;  Ellensville ;  Bedford.  In- 
stitutions also  at  New  York,  Buffalo,  Rochester,  Syracuse, 
Hudson  and  Albion. 

NORTH  CAROLINA. — Penitentiary,  Raleigh.  Prisoners 
mostly  on  State  Farms. 

NORTH  DAKOTA. — Penitentiary,  Bismark. 

OHIO. — Penitentiary,  Columbus.  Reformatory,  Mans- 
field. Industrial  School,  Boys,  Lancaster ;  Girls,  Delaware. 
House  of  Refuge,  Cincinnati. 

OREGON. — Penitentiary,  Reform  School,  Salem. 

PENNSYLVANIA. — Penitentiaries,  Philadelphia,  Allegheny. 
Industrial  Reformatory,  Huntingdon.  Reform  School, 


634  PRISONS   AND   PRAYER 

Morganza.     House  of  Correction,  Philadelphia.     House  of 
Refuge,  Glen  Mills. 

RHODE  ISLAND. — Prison,  Work  House  and  House  of  Cor- 
rection, Sockanosset.  School  for  Boys,  and  Oaklawn 
School  for  Girls,  Howard. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. — Penitentiary,  Columbia.  State  Farms. 

SOUTH  DAKOTA. — Penitentiary,  Sioux  Falls.  Reform 
School,  Plankinton. 

TENNESSEE. — Penitentiaries,  Nashville,  Petros.  Indus- 
trial School,  Nashville. 

TEXAS. — Penitentiaries,  Huntsville,  Rusk.  House  of 
Correction  and  Reformatory,  Gatesville. 

UTAH. — Penitentiary,  Salt  Lake  City.  Reform  School, 
Ogden. 

VERMONT. — Prison,  Windsor.  House  of  Correction,  Rut- 
land. Industrial  School,  Vergenes. 

VIRGINIA. — Penitentiary,  Richmond.  Laurel  Industrial 
School,  Glen  Allen. 

WASHINGTON. — Penitentiary,  Walla  Walla.  Reform 
School,  Chehalis. 

WEST  VIRGINIA. — Penitentiary,  Moundsville.  Reform 
School  for  Boys,  Pruntytown.  Girls'  Industrial  School,  Sa- 
lem. 

WISCONSIN. — Prison,  Waupun.  Reformatory,  near  Green 
Bay.  Industrial  School  for  Boys,  Waukesha.  For  Girls 
and  Boys,  Milwaukee. 

WYOMING. — Penitentiary,  Rawlins. 

PRISONS    IN    CANADA. 

Penitentiaries  or  Prisons,  Kingston,  Toronto,  St.  Vincent 
de  Paul,  Dorchester,  New  Westminster,  and  Stony  Mountain. 


"IT  WIUL,  STIR   THB   SOUL." 

A  NEW  AND  WONDERFUL  BOOK. 

OLD-TIME  RELIGION. 


Bv  REV.  S.  B.  SHAW. 


Including  an  account  of  the  Greatest  Re- 
vivals since  Pentecostal  Days,  and  telling  how 
to  bring  about  an  old  time  revival.  Also 
recording  many  remarkable  answers  to  prayer* 

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old  time  sermons  that  moved  the  multitudes 
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in  this  book.  The  description  of  sin  and  deprav- 
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TK»  wn«  r»f  rraitif  ««TTI  thi«j  timplv  The  author  quotes  from  'Fletcher's 
^   tKnVhor  discusSs  Sid  Tim?  Appeal,'   Bunyan's    'Pilgrim's  Prog- 
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-^    Repentance  '  and  other  noted  '  old  time '  writers  and 
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vivals  are  described  and  incidents 
related  which  are  calculated  to  thrill 
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Power." 

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certainly  will  have  a  large  sale." 


Religious  Telescope:  ••  •  The  Old-Time 
Religion,'  by  S.  B.  SHAW,  is  a 
new  book,  which  is  a  revelation  of 
the  awful  corruption  of  sin  and  of  the 
mighty  transforming  power  of  the 
grace  of  God.  Other  books  by  the  same 
author  have  had  a  sale  of  nearly  a 
HALF  MILLION  'copies,  and  we  con- 


e°Asaj        „     .    sider  this  booh f  fully  equal,  if  not  su- 
The  Free  Methodist:   "An  excellent   perior,  to  any  of  them." 
compilationof  facts  in  connection  with  * 

320  PAGES,  5  BY  8  INCHES. 

Price,  per  copy,  post-paid:  Cloth,  $1.00;  Paper,  35  cents* 

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all  the  outfit  needed*    Write  us  at  once  for  terms  to  agents. 


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The  Great  Revival  in  Wales,  Shaw. 
Cprapiled.  Concise.  Complete.  Includes  full 
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In  great  demand  256  pages. 

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Wayside  Sketches,  Cooke.  Bright. 
Bracing,  Biographical.  28  illustrations.  382 
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